Lützowholmbukta, East Antarctica, is covered by fast ice except during a short period in April and May, but occasionally the ice cover breaks up and floats out of the bay.

The fast ice was observed every day using NOAA-7, 8 infra-red imagery. The satellite signal was received at Syowa Station, located on Ongul Island. In addition, aerial photographs and video pictures were taken using aircraft every fortnight.

In 1983, before the break-up of the fast ice in April, a distinctive increase of the infra-red radiance (NOAA AVHRR) was observed, even though the aerial observation showed no change. The increase of the radiance was estimated to be 5°C. It was in this area, where the higher infra-red signal was observed, where the fast ice broke up. In December, in the central part of the northern area of the fast ice, the hummock-ice zone formed in a triangular shape. Before the hummock-ice zone floated out, observation of the infra-red radiance showed that the temperature of the ice had decreased by 3°C.