Coronation Glacier New Island Development-Baffin Island

On October 11, 2023April 18, 2024 By mspeltoIn Canada glacier retreat2 Comments

This is a portion of the island emerging from beneath the terminus with the 20-50 m high ice front in July 2023, the main portion of the island extends to the left and then out from the glacier. (Bischke/Biner/Bessen/Klemmensen)

Coronation Glacier is the largest outlet glacier of the Penny Ice Cap on Baffin Island. The glacier has an area of ~660 square kilometers and extends 35 km from the edge of the ice cap terminating in Coronation Fjord. Retreat from 1989 to 2023 has been 1050 m on the northern side of the fjord and 900 m on the south side of the fjord. The average retreat of 975 m in 33 years is ~30 m/year, much faster than the 1880-1988 period. Locations 1-9 are tributaries that have each narrowed or retreated from the main stem of the glacier. I reported on a new island forming at the terminus in 2016, and I have been hoping to identify someone who would visit the island. The island now has an area of 0.25 km², its character is evident in images below. Amanda Bischke reached out on behalf of a four person climbing team heading into the area this summer. In mid-July the team had reached the front of the glaciers and over the next 20 days explored the glacier and its tributary. Here I analyse images taken by the team of Amanda Bischke, Shira Biner, Noah Bessen and James Klemmensen in conjunction with Sentinel images. One striking aspect of the Sentinel image from August 16, 2023 is how the snowline is on the ice cap feeding tributary 1-3 at 1500 m. This has become a common theme, and is resulting in less flow from the ice cap down these tributaries leading to detachment. Tributary 1, 3 and 6 have separated from the main glacier, while Tributary 2,4,7 and 9 have detachments nearly or completely severing the glacier enroute to the main glacier.

I appreciate the collaboration with the climbing party who have posted an initial report, I will update when further reports are published. Of their four first ascents, The Drawbridge was a visually compelling line to me. If you are heading out into a seldom visited glaciated area on a climbing expedtion reach out and see what would be valuable to observe. We can see overall changes from satellite imagery, but not the details. Two examples here are what the surface of the island is composed of, sand and small rocks in this case, or a developing detachment such as at the chasm are not evident from satellite imagery.

As the glacier retreats the Island continues to expand from 2017-2023. The tributaries I hoped the climbing team could document where possible if they were still attached.

The climbing team visiting the oldest part of the island looking toward newest part (Bischke/Biner/Bessen/Klemmensen)

A view of the island from the north side of Coronation Glacier (Bischke/Biner/Bessen/Klemmensen)

Sentinel image of the expanding island at the Coronation Glacier terminus in Sentinel images.

Tributary 1 detached from main glacier, note high snowline (Bischke/Biner/Bessen/Klemmensen)

Tributary 2 has a detachment point before the main glacier, though relict ice below still connects. Note snow is only retained at very top of ice cap with a month of melt season left. (Bischke/Biner/Bessen/Klemmensen)

Tributary 6 is still connected all the a detachment is occurring halfway from ice cap to main glacier. (Bischke/Biner/Bessen/Klemmensen)

Tributary 7 and 8 are still connected, though 7 has a detachment now (Bischke/Biner/Bessen/Klemmensen)

Triburary 9 had an interesting barrier to the climbers a deep chasm carved by an outlet stream draining meltwater, some of which had pooled in the lake shown. (Bischke/Biner/Bessen/Klemmensen)

Terra Nivea Ice Cap Expanding Bedrock Outcrops and Proglacial Lakes

On June 8, 2023April 19, 2024 By mspeltoIn Canada glacier retreat

Terra Nivea Ice Cap in Sentinel false color images from 2017 and 2022. Point A=bedrock outcrops expanding. Point L=expanding proglacial lakes. Red arrow=supraglacial stream chanels, yellow arrow=annual layers, green arrow=location where ice cap will separate.

Terra Nivea Ice Cap is the southern most Ice Cap in North America, on the Terra Incognita Peninsula of Baffin Island. Mercer (1956) noted that the ice cap accumulation during most years was via superimposed ice, though some years snow did endure at the top of the ice cap. Paspodoro et al (2015) observed a 34% reduction in ice cap area from 1958-2014 with an acceleration after 2007. Here we note a lack of retained snow, firn or superimposed ice on the northern portion of the ice cap in 2017 and 2022. The lack of retained accumulation as snow or ice results in rapid thinning that is leading to bedrock expansion within and at the margin of the ice cap and the expansion of peripheral proglacial lakes.

Point A marks specific locations where bedrock areas amidst the ice cap are expanding. This expansion will lead to separation of the ice cap at the green arrows soon. The ice cap was 1.9 km wide at this point in 2017 and 1.5 km in 2022. Point L marks locatsions of proglacial lake expansion. The yellow arrows indicate annual layers even at the summit area, which would not be visible if superimposed ice was forming. The red arrows indicate supraglacial stream channel that lead all the way to the summit region. For an ice cap retaiining firn or superimposed ice, the channels would begin below that margin. This illustrates that during the the 2017-2022 there was no retained accumulation on Terra Nivea Ice Cap. This is true of the rest of the ice cap as well. Here in order to better visualize change, the focus is just on the northern portion.

This same story is playing out on Grinnell Ice Cap.

Terra Nivea Ice Cap in Sentinel false color images from 2017 and 2022 illustraing separation region. Point A=bedrock outcrops expanding. Point L=expanding proglacial lakes. Green arrow=location where ice cap will separate.

Penny Ice Cap NW Thinning and Retreat Evident

On July 7, 2019April 25, 2024 By mspeltoIn Canada glacier retreat3 Comments

The Northwest (NW) and Northnorthwest (NNW) outlet of the Penny Ice Cap in 1991 and 2019 Landsat images. Red arrow indicates the 1991 terminus location. Point 1 is a large proglacial, Point 2-4 are areas of emerging and expanding bedrock amidst the ice cap.

The two largest outlet glaciers of the NW quadrant of the Penny Ice Cap feed the Isurtuq River. In 1991 both outlet glaciers terminated at 600 m. Schaffer et al. (2017) noted a substantial reduction in velocity of the six largest outlet glaciers of the Penny Ice Cap from 1985-2011, 12% per decade. This is driven by mass balance losses, which drive thinning and retreat as well. Here we examine the changes from 1991-2019 of the Northwest (NW) and Northnorthwest (NNW) outlet of the Penny Ice Cap. The summer of 2019 is shaping up to feature substantial mass balance losses.

In the 1991 Landsat image the NW outlet reaches the Isurtuq River. The large 7 km² proglacial lake #1 is impounded by the glacier, it is mostly covered by lake ice in this image. At Point #3 there is no bedrock that has emerged. The NNW outlet terminates 1 km south of the Isurtuq River, upglacier Point #2 is a single bedrock outcrop and Point #4 is barely evident. In 2000 the NW outlet has receded from the river, the proglacial lake is still 7 km² and Point #3 has no evident bedrock. The NNW outlet has receded 100-200 m and bedrock at Point #2 and 4 are more evident. In 2016 the proglacial lake has diminished and now is several small lakes. At Point 3 bedrock is evident. At Point #2 there are two areas of bedrock covering 0.25 km². The snowline in 2016 is above this portion of the icecap. In 2019 the NW outlet has retreated 500 m, proglacial lake #1 has three separate parts that total less than 2 km². Bedrock at Point #2-4 has expanded significantly indicating ice cap thinning. On June 30 2019 the snowline is already above this section of the ice cap, +1100 m with two months of melting to come. Point #2 has an exposed bedrock area of 0.8 km². Look for a merging of the bedrock at Point 2 and further expansion at 3 and 4. The high snowline at +1100 m, for this early in the summer was also observed at Fork Beard Glacier just east of Penny Ice Cap and is due to very warm temperatures in June in the region.

Way (2015) noted that the Grinnell Ice Cap also on Baffin Island, has lost 18% of its area from 1974 to 2013 and that the rate of loss has greatly accelerated due so summer warming. Grinnell Ice Cap also has seen a loss of snowpack even at its crest.

The Northwest and Northnorthwest outlet of the Penny Ice Cap in 2000 and 2016 Landsat images. Red arrow indicates the 1991 terminus location. Point 1 is a large proglacial, Point 2-4 are areas of emerging and expanding bedrock amidst the ice cap.

Map of the region

Coronation Glacier, Baffin Island Retreat Leads to Building a New Island

On January 9, 2017May 1, 2024 By mspeltoIn Canada glacier retreat3 Comments

A Landsat image from 1989 and a Sentinel 2 image from2016 illustrate the retreat of Coronation Glacier. Red arrows indicate the 1989 terminus and yellow arrows the 2016 terminus location. Purple numbers 1-5 indicate locations of tributary retreat or thinning. Purple numbers 6-9 are icecaps that did not retain snowcover in 2016.

Coronation Glacier is the largest outlet glacier of the Penny Ice Cap on Baffin Island. The glacier has an area of ~660 square kilometers and extends 35 km from the edge of the ice cap terminating in Coronation Fjord. On January 10, 2017 an Art Exhibit “Into the Arctic” by Cory Trepanier opens at the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC, the first stop in a two year North American tour. The exhibit features some amazing paintings of Coronation Glacier (see below). Here we examine the response driven by climate change of this glacier from 1989 to 2016 using Landsat and Sentinel Imagery. Van Wychen et al (2015) observe that it is the largest glacier from any of the Baffin Island Ice Caps with discharge greater than 10 Mt/year. They observed peak velocities of 100-120 m/year in the descent from the main ice cap into the main glacier valley. The velocity in the terminus section is ~30 meters/year. Syvitski (1992) noted that Coronation glacier retreated at an average rate of 12 meters per year from 1890-1988. Zdanowizc et al (2012) noted that in recent years the ice cap has experienced heightened melt, a longer melt season and that little retained snowpack survives the summer, that most of the retained accumulation is refrozen meltwater (superimposed ice). This has helped lead to firn temperatures at 10m depth near the summit of Penny Ice Cap to warm by 10 °C between the mid-1990s and 2011, (Zdanowizc et al (2012). Geodetic methods indicate surface lowering of up to 1 m/year on all ice masses on Baffin Island and Bylot Island between 1963 and 2006 (Gardner et al.2012).

Cory Trepanier Great Glacier painting, which is of Coronation Glacier.

In 1989 Coronation Glacier terminates at the red arrow, where the main outlet stream has created a pair of small deltaic islands on the northern side of the fjord. By 1998 the terminus has retreated from both islands, with the northern one already having disappeared. There is a plume of glacier sediments in the fjord from the main river outlet emanating from below the glacier is near the center of the glacier. There has not been significant retreat on the south side of the glacier terminus. In 2002 both islands are gone, most of the retreat is still on the northern side of fjord. The plume of glacier sediments in the fjord from the main river outlet remains near the center of the glacier. In 2016 a new deltaic island has formed near the southern edge of the margin, indicating a shift in the position of the main river outlet emanating from below the glacier, this is also marked by a large plume. The island formed is larger than those observed in 1989 or 1998. The nature of the loosely consolidated glacier sediments deposited in a fjord is to subside/erode after the sediment source is eliminated. The retreat of the glacier insures that this will occur soon to the island here. The size of the island gives it potential to survive, based on satellite imagery. A visit to the island would be needed to shed light on its potential for enduring. Cory Trepanier is hoping to return for more paintings, which will illustrate better the change to us than a satellite image can. Retreat from 1989 to 2016 has been 1100 m on the northern side of the fjord and 500 m on the south side of the fjord. The average retreat of 800 m in 27 years is over 30 m/year, much faster than the 1880-1988 period. Locations 1-5 are tributaries that have each narrowed or retreated from the main stem of the glacier.

Closeup of the Coronation Glacier terminus and the new island in 2016, Sentinel 2 image.

The other noteworthy change is the lack of snowpack retained at locations 6-9 in the 2016 Sentinel image on small ice caps adjacent to Coronation Glacier in 2016. This continues a trend observed in 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2012 and that Zdanowizc et al (2012) also noted, 2009 image below. The high snowline is also evident on Grinnell Ice Cap The driving force has been an increase in temperature and this has caused mass losses on ice caps throughout the Canadian Arctic (Gardner, et al. 2011) and (Sharp et al, 2011).

Sequence of Landsat images indicating terminus positions. Red arrow is the 1989 terminus position and yellow arrow the 2016 terminus position.

2009 Landsat image of Coronation Glacier indicating lack of retained snowcover on surrounding ice caps.

Barnes Ice Cap, Baffin Island Evident Response to Climate Change

On November 18, 2016May 1, 2024 By mspeltoIn Canada glacier retreat1 Comment

Barnes Ice Cap transect and closeup of divide area in August 2016. Black dots indicate summit divide of the ice cap. Notice the channels extending away from the divide. These are not stream channels, as they are too wide, but they are meltwater formed valleys that are preferred pathways for the meltwater transport.

Barnes Ice Cap located in the center of Bafﬁn Island, Canada covers an area of ~5800 km2. The ice cap is approximately 150 km long, 60 km wide and has maximum ice thickness of ~730 m and a maximum ice elevation of 1124 m above sea level (asl) at the summit of the north dome (Andrews, 2002). They also note a retreat of the southeast margin of 4 m/year from 1961-1993 on the southeast margin (Jacobs et al 1997). Dupont et al (2012) identified that the melt season increased from 66 days fro the 1979-87 period to 87 days from 2002-2010. They also noted that ICESat altimeter data indicated the thinning of the BIC at a mean rate of 0.75 m/year for the 2003–2009 period. Gilbert et al (2016) Figure 5 indicates the ELA was at 950 in the 1960-80 period and is at 1100 m from 2002-2010 this leaves a limited accumulation zone area. observe that Barnes Ice Cap has nearly lost its accumulation area over the last 10 years, in part due to the longer melt season. The glacier does tend to not retain snowcover the accumulation zone consists of superimposed ice at the crest. Papasodoro et al (2016) noted that glacier wide balances were −0.52 m w.e./year from 1960 to 2013 and doubled to −1.06m w.e./year from 2005 to 2013. They also The drainage channel development suggests meltwater transport from versus refreezing of meltwater in 2016.

Landsat comparison of the northwest margin of the Barnes Ice Cap in 1990 and 2016. Red arrows indicate terminus locations in 1990. Purple arrows indicate an area of stream development parallel to the ice front. The bright area at the margin of the ice cap is Pleistocene ice (Andrews, 2002).

Here we examined Landsat imagery from 1990-2016 to illustrate the retreat of the northwest region of the icecap and to take a look at the 2016 melt features and lack of any retained snowcover on the ice cap. In 2016 the melt channels from the divide at the crest of the ice cap are impressive. There is no retained snowcover at the summit of the ice cap even on August 9th with several week left in the melt season. The melt pathways visible in the imagery from 2016 extend 10 km downslope from the crest of the icecap. In 1990 the ice cap terminated at the red arrows, this included contact with a peninsula in Nivlalis Lake and an island in Conn Lake. By 2011 and 2014 the glacier had retreated from the locations. In 2016 the total retreat of the margin has been 600 m at Nivalis Lake, 1100 m at the island in Conn Lake and 450 m further east at the red arrow halfway to Bieler Lake. This is a slow retreat rate compared to many glaciers, but represents a much higher rate than before 1990, with rates of 18-42 m/year. There is a new section of river parallel to the ice cap margin between Conn and Bieler Laker.

2011 Landsat image of northern margin indicating retreat from the 1990 postiion red arrows.

2014 Landsat image of northern margin indicating retreat from the 1990 postiion red arrows.

Clephane Bay Ice Cap, Baffin Island Being Erased from Map

On May 20, 2016May 2, 2024 By mspeltoIn Canada glacier retreat, climate change glacier retreat

Comparison of 1995 and 2014 Landsat images of ice caps A, B, C, D and E. Pink arrows indicate where A, B and E separated. C and D have disappeared. F is an outlet glacier with a retreating terminus.

The southern part of the Cumberland Peninsula on Baffin Island features many small ice caps. Here we examine the disappearance of two and the separation of two others from 1995 to 2014. Way (2015) noted that on the next peninsula to the west, Terra Nivea and G rinnell Ice Cap had lost 20% of their area in the last three decades. The retreat and disappearance of ice caps in the area have led to a INSTAAR project at UColorado-Boulder examining vegetation that had been buried and is now being exposed. Gardner et al 2011 and Sharp et al (2011) both note that the first decade of the 21st century had the warmest temperatures of the last 50 years, the period of record. They identified that the mass loss had doubled in the last decade versus the previous four for Baffin Island. This is causing ice caps like Dexterity and those around Clephane Bay to melt away

In 1995 ice caps A-E are each a single coherent ice cap, there are narrow points of connection between sections on A, B and E. Ice Caps C and D are simple ice caps between 500 and 800 m across on their widest axis. The terminus of the outlet glacier at F is an expanded lobe. Only Ice Cap A has a significant area above 800 m. The rate of loss from 1995 to 2002 is not as rapid as after, C and D still exist, A,B and E are still connected as a contiguous ice mass. In 2013 ice cap C and D are gone. The snowline is generally above A, B and E with only a small stripe of retained snow on each. Ice cap A, B and E have each separated into multiple parts. In 2014 there is no retained snow on the ice caps, pink arrows indicate the location of separation for ice caps A,B and E. In 2014 the terminus lobe at Point F has lost half of its area, retreat in distance will not accelerate. The lack of retained accumulation most years indicates no accumulation zone and the ice caps cannot survive without that. The only clear image in 2015 indicates a snowcover in August, but this appears to be from a summer snow event.

Canada Toporama map of the region.

2002 Landsat image limited retained snowpack

2013 Landsat image no retained snowpack.

2015 Landsat image, appears that a summer snowstorm has spread snow across ice covered regions above 500 m.

Auyuittuq National Park Ice Cap Downwasting, Baffin Island

On July 28, 2015May 2, 2024 By mspeltoIn Canada glacier retreat, climate change glacier retreat, glacier climate change, Glacier Observations, Uncategorized

Just south of the Penny Ice Cap on Baffin Island in Auyuittuq National Park there are a large number of small ice caps. We focus on three of these ice caps east of Greenshield Lake. The region has been experiencing rapid ice loss, with 50 % of the ice cap area lost in the last few decades (Miller et al, 2008). Miller et al (2008) also observe that these are thin and cold glaciers frozen to their beds with limited flow. Way et al (2015) observed the loss of 18-22% of two larger ice caps on Baffin Island, Grinnell and Terra Incognita. The ice cap losses are due to reduced retained snowpack. Zdanowicz et al (2012) found that starting in the 1980s, Penny Ice Cap entered a phase of enhanced melt rates related to rising summer and winter air temperatures across the eastern Arctic. In recent years they observed that 70 to 100% of the annual accumulation is in the form of refrozen meltwater. However, if the snowline rises above the ice cap consistently, as happened at Grinnell Ice Cap than there is no firn to retain the meltwater and superimposed ice formation is limited. Meltwater has difficulty refreezing on a glacier ice surface. The rise in temperature is illustrated by a figure from Way et al (2015), below

Map of region south of Penny Ice Cap from Canadian Topographic maps.

Figure From Way et al; (2015)

In the 1998 Landsat image the two northern ice caps, with E and F on them, have very little retained any snowpack, but significant firn areas. The larger ice cap has retained snowpack adjacent to Point A and considerable firn area as well. There is a trimline beyond the glacier margin apparent west of Point B due to recent retreat, but otherwise trimlines are not immediately evident. In 2000 the two northern ice caps again have very little retained snow, and the larger ice cap retained snow near Point A. In the 2013 Google Earth image black arrows on the image indicate trimlines recently exposed by glacier retreat. There is no evident retained snow, and no retained firn is even evident. This suggests the ice caps lacks an accumulation zone. A close up view, illustrates many years of accumulation layers now exposed, note the linear dark lines, black arrows. The second closeup view illustrates the area around Point E and D that has been deglaciated. There also are some new areas of expanded bedrock such as near Point A on the larger ice cap. The 2014 Landsat image indicates the bedrock has expanded at Point A. At Point B an area of bedrock is expanding into the ice cap. At Point C the lake has expanded at. Ice has melted away from Point D and E. At Point F a new area of bedrock has emerged within the ice cap. At Point J the new bedrock seen in the 2013 Google Earth image has now expanded to the margin of the ice sheet. These changes are a result of a thinning ice cap, largely due to increased ablation. The lack of retained snow cover or firn confirms there is not a consistent accumulation zone and that these ice caps cannot survive current climate (Pelto, 2010).

1998 Landsat image

2000 Landsat image

2013 Google Earth Image

Google Earth Closeup

2014 Landsat image

Dexterity Ice Cap, Baffin Island

On March 10, 2013 By mspeltoIn Glacier Observations

At the south end of Dexterity Fjord on the northeast coast of Baffin Island is an unnamed icecap that I will refer to as Dexterity Icecap. Gardner et al (2012). Gardner et al 2011 and Sharp et al (2011) both note that the first decade of the 21st century had the warmest temperatures of the last 50 years, the period of record. identified that the mass loss had doubled in the last decade versus the previous four for Baffin Island. Landsat images from 1990, 1994 and 2011 are used to assess the changes in this icecap. Red arrows are used to identify nunataks within the icecep, bedrock islands amidst the glacier. In 1990 and 1994 there are three evident nunataks. By 2011 there are six nunataks indicating this ice cap is thinning. In 2011 the ice cap has only 5-10% snowcover, the rest has melted away, not a good sign for an ice cap. There are a series of letters A-F on each image indicating particular locations. It is evident that the terminus has shrunk in width in particular in 2011 from the 1990’s. At Point B the glacier has receded from the edge of a small lake. At Point C a small ice cap has separated from its larger neighbor between the 1990’s and 2011. At Point D it is difficult to discern the terminus in the lake in 1990 and 1994. That the lake is open in 2011 and has numerous icebergs and the open water can absorb more heat from the sun, suggests that this terminus could suffer from enhanced melting and calving going forward. Point E represents a small tongue of ice that in the 1990’s extended to the top of gully, but by 2011 was gone. Point F indicates an ice cap that has a very tenuous connection to the Dexterity Ice Cap. It is the width of the ice cap that has diminished the most from 800-900 meters in the 1990’s to 500-600 m in 2011. The retreat of Dexterity Ice Cap is similar to that of Penny Ice Cap further south on Baffin Island and Devon Ice Cap further north in the Canadian Arctic. A paper out this past week concludes that there is an ongoing irreversible mass loss of glaciers in the Canadian Arctic Lenearts et al (2013).

Penny Ice Cap southwestern margin retreat

On February 20, 2012 By mspeltoIn Glacier Observations1 Comment

Examination of 1991 and 2009 Landsat imagery highlights the retreat of the Penny Ice Cap at its southwestern margin. The glaciers and lakes in this region are unnamed. The Penny Ice Cap is one of two large ice caps on Baffin Island and is the southernmost of the two, with an area of more than 5600 square kilometers. On the east side the glacier exit the ice cap through spectacular mountains. The westside spreads across rolling upland terrain. In this post we examine the margin at the southwest corner, where the ice cap ends in a series of upland lakes. Changes in the margin are identifed from Landsat images from 1991-top, 2003-middle and 2009-bottom. The snowline in this region is near 900 meters in the 1991 and 2003 images. In the 2009 image the snowline is at least 1100 meters leaving the southwest corner of the Penny Ice Cap with a minimal accumulation zone. Zdanowizc et al (2012) note that in recent years the ice cap has experienced heightened melt and that little retained snowpack survives the summer, that most of the retained accumulation is refrozen meltwater (superimposed ice). In each image key locations are indicated: the nunataks are marked with violet arrows as is the margin downstream of the nunataks, key islands and peninsulas are noted with green arrows that are at the 1991 margin, the orange arrow indicates a region just east of a key marker lake. Landsat imagery from 2003 and 2009 indicates the same locations. It is evident that new islands, lakes and peninsulas are developing. The retreat and formation of new lakes at the orange and violet marginal arrow are apparent the appearance of new islands in the lakes at the green arrows is also evident. One of the largest marginal changes is downstream of the nunataks. In 1991 the margin here had no notable indent from the rest of the margin and the glacier surface was not notably debris covered. In 2009 the margin has developed a new lake as an indent has formed and the glacier surface has more evident debris. This debris is too thin to insulate the ice underneath and instead will reduce the albedo and enhance melting. The nunatak is also expanding particularly toward the margin. Overlaying the 1991 and 2009 images in Google earth provides comparison of the margin of 1991 to the Google Earth imagery and 2009 imagery. The retreat along this section of the ice cap is 300-400 meters during this 18 year period. The driving force has been an increase in temperature and this has caused mass losses on ice caps throughout the Canadian Arctic (Gardner, et al. 2011) and (Sharp et al, 2011). The mass losses of the Penny Ice Cap are also affecting the eastern margin around Coronation Glacier.