Ice growth in Duluth harbor and western Lake Superior
Ice growth computation for the Duluth-Superior harbor and the adjacent Lake Superior waters, using the heat budget balance, agrees well with the measured ice values for the 1972-73 winter season. ERTS data is used for the determination of ice albedo and the resulting ice decay rate on Lake Superior. During the period of ice packing near Duluth, the calculated ice decay rates, combined with the ERTS data on the extent and the condition of the ice field indicate maximum ice packing between March 20-27, when the packed ice field, exhibiting albedo values above 70% reached an average 60 cm thickness. The results offer a method for description of ice packing which could be used for ice forecasting on Lake Superior if more frequent ERTS images were available.