| Title | Spatial and temporal variation of ice motion and ice flux from Devon Ice Cap, Nunavut, Canada |
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| Author | Van Wychen, W; Copland, L; Gray, L; Burgess, D ; Danielson, B; Sharp, M |
| Source | Journal of Glaciology vol. 58, no. 210, 2012 p. 657-664, https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J164  Open Access |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2012 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20150329 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Nunavut |
| NTS | 48H |
| Area | Devon Ice Cap; Devon Island |
| Lat/Long WENS | -84.0000 -80.0000 76.0000 75.0000 |
| Subjects | surficial geology/geomorphology; geophysics; Nature and Environment; remote sensing; satellite imagery; ice; ice movement; RADARSAT-2; Cenozoic; Quaternary |
| Illustrations | histograms; plots; satellite images |
| Program | Climate Change Geoscience Earth Science for National Scale Characterization of Climate Change Impacts on Canada's Landmass |
| Released | 2017 09 08 |
| Abstract | Speckle tracking of repeat RADARSAT-2 fine-beam imagery acquired over 24 day periods in March 2009 allowed the creation of updated surface motion maps for the entire Devon Ice Cap, Canada. Error
analysis indicates that speckle tracking can determine ice motion to an accuracy of ~5 ma -1. Comparisons with earlier velocity maps from the mid-1990s and 2000 reveal velocity patterns that largely agree with flow regimes described previously.
However, motion determined along East5 Glacier indicates an increase in surface velocities between the studies. Additionally, Southeast2 Glacier has significantly accelerated over the past decade, with velocities greater in 2009 than in the early
1990s along almost the entire length of the glacier. This is likely indicative of a surge. Present-day total mass loss from Devon Ice Cap due to iceberg calving is calculated as 0.40 ± 0.09 Gt a -1, similar to that reported by Burgess and others
(2005), with Belcher Glacier accounting for ~42% of the entire loss. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
The large (> 5000 km2) ice caps in the Canadian high Arctic are drained by outlet glaciers many of which are tidewater terminating. These glaciers flow
at speeds 1 - 2 orders of magnitude faster than the interior stagnant ice and represent important conduits for the transfer of mass from the high elevation regions directly to oceans. Variations in velocity of these glaciers has a direct and
immediate impact on ice cap geometry and rate of ice discharge to oceans. This paper provides a recent (2009) map of glacier velocities for one of the largest ice caps in the Canadian high Arctic (Devon ice cap -14,000 km2) and compares these with
earlier (1992/1993) published values. Results show that while some of the interior ice flow along outlet glaciers has increased in speed over the 17 year period, the rate of ice discharged directly to oceans has not changed significantly. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 297392 |
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