A methodology is presented which allows on to calculate an ice thickness term using observed ice motion and wind data. Since the wind data can come from atmospheric pressure fields or numerical models, the methodology is in fact a remote-sensing capability which relies on ice motion data from satellite imagery, buoys drifting on the ice, etc. The thickness term is shown to be an effective ice thickness which reflects the strength of the ice as a result of the true ice thickness plus the added mass effect of horizontal gradients of pressure and internal ice stresses. The method for estimating the actual ice thickness and then calculating the forces due to pressure and internal stresses is also outlined. Examples of the temporal variations of the effective ice thickens in the Beaufort Sea are presented. These variations are explained in terms of the compactness of the ice field as the motion is toward or away from the ice pack.