North Greenland ice islands

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Higgins, A. K.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1989
• Subjects: Arctic Ocean; Ellesmere Island; Greenland; Ice Shelves; Iceberg*; North Greenland; Polar Record; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400010809; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400010809

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.