Ice Cap Monitoring

Regions: Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut

Tags: physical sciences, climate change, glaciology, ice cap, gravity, elevation

Principal Investigator: Weber, J.R. (2)
Licence Number: 12094
Organization: Geological Survey of Canada
Licensed Year(s): 1993 1992
Issued: Jan 01, 1992
Project Team: R. Cooper; R.M. Koerner; L. Lundgaard

Objective(s): To monitor elevation changes of ice caps as part of climatic change research; to determine the elevation change of the Penny Ice Cap over a 30 year period from 1962 to 1992;

Project Description: In 1962 a long-term project to monitor the elevation change of the Penny Ice Cap, Baffin Island was initiated. The growth or shrinkage of an ice cap is an indicator of climate change. Change in elevation is measured by the change of the force of gravity at a particular point on the top of the ice cap. As the ice cap grows the force of gravity decreases because gravity decreases with altitude. Gravity is measured with gravity meters.