Ice Island Calvings and Ice Shelf Changes, Milne Ice Shelf and Ayles Ice Shelf, Ellesmere Island, N.W.T.

Abstract

Analysis of vertical air photographs taken in 1959 and 1974 reveals that a total of 48 sq km, involving 3.3 cubic km, of ice calved from Milne and Ayles ice shelves between July 1959 and July 1974. In addition, Ayles Ice Shelf moved to about 5 km out of Ayles Fiord. It still occupied this exposed position in July 1984. The ice losses and movements have allowed the growth of thick sea ice that has developed an undulating topography similar to but smaller scale than that of the ice shelves. It is suggested that regular monitoring of the coastal ice of northern Ellesmere Island would enable such changes to be registered and assessed, as they could be of concern to offshore operations in the Beaufort Sea.

Key words: air photographs, Milne Ice Shelf, Ayles Ice Shelf, ice island calvings, thick sea ice growth