Water Regime of Disraeli Fiord, Ellesmere Island

• Main Author: Keys,John E
• Other Authors: DEFENCE RESEARCH ESTABLISHMENT OTTAWA (ONTARIO)
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1978
• Subjects: Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; *OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA; *COLD WEATHER TESTS; *FJORDS; TEMPERATURE; CANADA; ICE FORMATION; FRESH WATER; ICE; SALINITY; ARCTIC REGIONS; OCEAN TIDES; ELLESMERE ISLAND; OCEANOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT; *Disraeli Fiord; Ward Hunt Ice Shelf; Arctic; Canada; Disraeli Fiord; Ellesmere Island; Ice Shelf
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA064439; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA064439

The mouth of Disraeli Fiord in northern Ellesmere Island is dammed by the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf from the surface to a depth of 44 metres. The fiord contains virtually fresh water to this depth overlying cold salt water. A perennial ice cover precludes any wind induced mixing. Fresh water enters the fiord in the form of melt streams which flow down to the pycnocline. This water flows out beneath the shelf, carrying some of the underlying salt water with it. Heat flows downward across the pycnocline causing formation of frazil ice in the lower part of the fresh layer. This ice floats up to adhere to the fiord ice. Salt water flowing out under the ice shelf is replaced by water of Atlantic origin entering at the bottom. (Author) Abstract in French.