Recession of the southern part of Barnes Ice Cap, Baffin Island, Canada, between 1961 and 1993, determined from digital mapping of Landsat TM

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Jacobs, John D., Simms, Élizabeth L., Simms, Alvin
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1997
• Subjects: Baffin Island; Canada; Barnes Ice Cap; Baffin; Ice cap; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000002859; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000002859

Abstract Changes along the margin of the southern half of the 5900 km 2 Barnes Ice Cap have been assessed using 1993 Landsat TM imagery in comparison with digitized 1:50 000 NTS maps based on 1961 photogrammetry. The average recession over the 183 km long southern perimeter was found to be at least 4 m a −1 , with no significant difference between the southeast and southwest sectors. Viewed in conjunction with the sustained retreat previously reported for the northwest margin, these results indicate that a general reduction in the size of Barnes Ice Cap is occurring. The present retreat phase began under a regional climate warming in the late 19th to early 20th century period and continues, while the record of the ablation-season temperature since the mid-century has not shown any significant trend.