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first-year ice

floating ice of no more than one year's growth developing from young ice; thickness from 0.3 to 2 meters (1 to 6.6 feet); characteristically level where undisturbed by pressure, but where ridges occur, they are rough and sharply angular.

(Photo courtesy of Ted Maksym, United States Naval Academy.)
(Photo courtesy of Ted Maksym, United States Naval Academy.)