Ice Shelf Studies off Northern Ellesmere Island, Spring 1983
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic2130Keywords:
Calving (Ice), Coasts, Cores, Firn, Ice shelves, Salinity, Strain, Ellesmere Island waters, Nunavut, Ellesmere Island, Milne Ice Shelf, Ward Hunt Ice ShelfAbstract
In spring 1983 work on the ice shelves of northern Ellesmere Island was continued. A total of 55 m of 7.6 cm diameter ice core was obtained from 10 locations. The longest core of 31.79 m is composed of ice-firn and basement ice and can be divided into three distinct strata according to ice salinity. Oscillating strains in Ward Hunt Ice Shelf were measured with a wire strainmeter. It is suggested that the periodic calving of ice from Ward Hunt Ice Shelf might be related to the effects of high frequency oscillation of 35 s to 40 s. Ice conditions along 150 km of coastline continue to change. Continued monitoring of the ice is believed to be necessary in view of the offshore development in the Beaufort Sea.
Key words: Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, Milne Ice Shelf, ice cores, strainmeter, coastal ice conditions
