12

Ice  formation  usually  begins  in  the  coastal  areas  of  Szczecin  Lagoon  in  mid-December,  and  in
late  December  to  early  January  ice  forms  in  harbour  areas  and  at  the  coast  of  Pomeranian
Bay.  In  extreme  years  the  ice  formation  may  already  begin  in  the  second  decade  of  November
(Szczecin  Lagoon)  or  in  early  December  (Pomeranian  Bay),  but  it  is  also  possible  that  first  ice
forms  as  late  as  during  the  last  days  of  February.
In  general,  the  ice  melts  completely  by  the  end  of  February  or  mid-March.  In  some  years  the
last  ice  disappeared  as  early  as  December,  while  the  latest  ice  occurrence  was  observed  on  19
April,  in  the  winter  1969/70,  in  Szczecin  Lagoon.
The  distribution  of  ice  thickness  and  ice  concentration  are  shown  in  Figure  1.5.  In  Szczecin
Lagoon,  fast  ice  with  a  thickness  up  to  30  cm  is  frequently  observed.  In  the  Pomeranian  Bay
the  ice  thickness  commonly  varies  between  16  and  30  cm,  and  open  to  very  open  drift  ice  is
predominant.

Distribution  of  ice  thickness  in  Szczecin  Lagoon  and
Pomeranian  Bay  in  1961-1990

Koserow  Kamminke  Kamin  Ueckermünde

Distribution  of  ice  concentration  in  Szczecin  Lagoon  and
Pomeranian  Bay  in  1961-1990
□  <7/10  □  7-8/10  □9-10/10

Koserow  Kamminke  Kamin  Ueckermünde

Figure  1.5.  Distribution  of  ice  thickness  and  ice  concentration  in  Szczecin  Lagoon  and
Pomeranian  Bay,  period  1961-1990