Meteorological and glaciological observations on the Gilman Glacier, northern Ellesmere Island, 1961

Abstract

Results are given of climatological and glaciological observations taken during the summer of 1961 in the névé area of the Gilman Glacier, northern Ellesmere Island. Long-term records from Alert weather station indicate that the summer season was relatively cool. Gross ablation was about 3 centimeters water equivalent at 1,660 meters above sea level and occurred almost entirely during two brief melt periods of 88 hours' duration in mid-July. The radiative-energy surplus was estimated to account for more than 85 per cent of the heat used to reduce subsurface cold content and promote melting. Comparison of the 1961 results with those of previous years indicates that an early summer snowfall or a small negative deviation from the present temperature mean, or both, can critically affect the Gilman Glacier economy.