BF-4-3-5

Power to Move Drift Ice

Winds, tides and currents move drift ice. The earth's rotation also influences the movement of drift ice.

The currents play a major role in carrying drift ice from far-away Siberia to here in Abashiri.

The current which carries the drift ice to the shoreline of Hokkaido is mainly the East Sakhalin Current.

The drift ice which reaches the shoreline flows to the east and eventually reaches Abashiri, due to the Soya Warm Current.

When the rapid East Sakhalin Current and the slow warm current moving close to the land meet, it forms swirling.

When this happens, the swirling becomes visible because of drift ice. This is called "drift ice eddy".

It was found that this occurs at 20-30 km from the shoreline.