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North Greenland ice islands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 October 2009

A. K. Higgins
Affiliation:
Geological Survey of Greenland, Øster Voldgade 10 DK-1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Abstract

Large tabular icebergs derived from the glaciers which drain the north fringe of Greenland's Inland Iceoccur in many North Greenland fjords. Many have undulating surface topography resembling that of the ice islands calved from Ellesmere Island ice shelves. Semi-permanent sea ice in North Greenland fjords often prevents the escape of bergs, except in exceptional summers several decades apart, when the fjord ice melts completely and some bergs may reach the Arctic Ocean. Other possible sources for ice islands are small ice shelves and local glaciers along the north coast of Greenland.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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