Exponential ridge-draft model ($n(H)=B{e}^{-bH}{1}_{\{H\ge h_0\}}$)

Here $n(H)dH$ is the expected number of ridge peaks per track length with sea-ice draft in $[H,H+dH]$. If total line density is $\mu$ and mean peak draft is $h_m>h_0$, integration gives $b=1/(h_m-h_0)$ and $B=\mu b{e}^{b{h}_0}$. The normalized peak draft has a shifted exponential distribution. This is a model over a specified draft range, not a universal description of every ridge.

For nonoverlapping triangular sea-ice pressure ridges with a common along-track side slope $\tan \delta$, a ridge whose peak exceeds $h$ contributes $2\cot \delta dh$ of track length in a draft interval $dh$. Summing over peaks proves the identity. Above the cutoff of an exponential ridge-draft model, $g(h)=A{e}^{-bh}$ with $A=2B/(b\tan \delta )$. This draft occupation is not the normalized peak probability density function; level ice and shallower parts supply the remaining probability.