Floe

A floe, in the context of polar ice, is a flat, floating mass of ice that has broken away from a larger sheet of sea ice or from a glacier. Individual floes are typically irregularly shaped and can range from a few meters to several kilometers across. They drift with the ocean currents and winds, and may be smooth or rough along their edges.

Floe formation begins with the fracturing of sea ice due to mechanical stresses from wind, waves, and thermal expansion and contraction. Once detached, floes may merge to form larger floe fields or fracture into smaller pieces. Their movement is governed by surface water motion, wind patterns, and ocean currents, with seasonal changes altering floe size and distribution.

Floe dynamics influence ecosystems and climate. Floes provide habitat for microorganisms and serve as hunting platforms for polar predators; they also affect heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere and modify albedo. In satellite imagery and navigation charts, floes appear as discrete blocks within pack ice.

Floe occurrence is most common in Arctic and Antarctic seas, where sea ice persists year to year or forms seasonally. For mariners and researchers, floes are important considerations in ice reconnaissance, climate studies, and remote sensing.