| Term: | Open water |
| Definition: |
A large area of freely navigable water in which floes may be present in concentration under 1/10th; if there is no sea ice present, the area may be termed open water, even though icebergs are present. NSIDCCryosphere
A large area of freely navigable water in which sea ice is present in concen- trations less than one-tenth. When no sea ice is present, the area should be termed ice free, even though icebergs occur. WMOSeaIce A large area of freely navigable water in which sea ice is present in concentrations less than 1/10 and ice of land origin is absent. Bushuyev Sea ice terminology describing a large area of freely navigable water in which ice is present, with a concentration less than 1/10. In open water no ice of land origin is present. ECCCanada A large area of freely navigable water in which floes may be present in concentrations under 1/10th. If there is no sea ice present the area may be termed open water, even though icebergs are present. SPRI GCW |