photo: pancake ice; grey ice and nilas (Environment Canada)
Predominantly circular pieces of ice from 30 cm - 3 m in diameter, and up to about 10 cm in
thickness, with raised rims due to the pieces striking against one other. It may be formed on a
slight swell from Grease ice, Shuga orSlush or as a result of the breaking of Ice rind, Nilas or,
under severe conditions of swell or waves, of Grey ice. It also sometimes forms at some
depth, at an interface between water bodies of different physical characteristics, from where it
floats to the surface; its appearance may rapidly cover wide areas of water.
