Sea and Lake Ice Studies in the Northwestern Russia Using Ers Sar and Other Satellite Data

The water bodies of the Northwestern Russia significantly influence the regional climate and ecology and in its turn are also effected by global and regional climate change. Ice parameters, such as the duration of ice cover, ice thickness and some others are sensitive indicators of regional climate variations [1]. Freeze-up in Ladoga Lake, which is the largest in Europe, usually starts in November in the shallow coastal parts and ice thickness increases until March when it reaches 46 cm in an “average” winter. The thickest ice (80-100 cm) was observed in the south-eastern shallow part of the lake, and the thinnest (30-60 cm) – in the deep northern area near Valaam island. Ice cover in March varies from 30% to 100%, depending on winter severity. Areas of fast and drifting ice can be identified in the lake. Melting starts in early April and by May 15-20 Ladoga Lake is completely ice-free [2].