DOCSLIB.ORG

Geomorphic Diversity and Complexity of the Inner Shelf, Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Based on Lidar and Multibeam Sonar Surveys

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Geomorphic Diversity and Complexity of the Inner Shelf, Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Based on Lidar and Multibeam Sonar Surveys Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Geomorphic diversity and complexity of the inner shelf, Canadian Arctic Archipelago, based on LiDAR and multibeam sonar surveys. Journal: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Manuscript ID cjes-2018-0312.R1 Manuscript Type: Article Date Submitted by the 12-Feb-2019 Author: Complete List of Authors: Shaw, John ; Natural Resources Canada Potter, D. Patrick; Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic) Wu, Yongsheng;Draft Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford Institute of Oceanography Keyword: Canadian Arctic Archipelago, LiDAR, Multibeam sonar, Littoral zone Is the invited manuscript for consideration in a Special Not applicable (regular submission) Issue? : https://mc06.manuscriptcentral.com/cjes-pubs Page 1 of 42 Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 1 Geomorphic diversity and complexity of the inner shelf, Canadian Arctic 2 Archipelago, based on LiDAR and multibeam sonar surveys. 3 4 John Shaw1, D. Patrick Potter2, and Yongsheng Wu3 5 6 1Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic), Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 7 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4A2, Canada. E-mail: 8 [email protected] 9 2Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic), Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 1 10 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4A2, Canada. E-mail: 11 [email protected] Draft 12 3Ocean and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Bedford 13 Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4A2, Canada. E-mail: 14 [email protected] 15 Corresponding author: Dr. John Shaw, Geological Survey of Canada (Atlantic), Bedford 16 Institute of Oceanography, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4A2, 17 Canada. Tel: 902 426 6204. E-mail: [email protected] 18 19 1 https://mc06.manuscriptcentral.com/cjes-pubs Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Page 2 of 42 21 22 Abstract: Data from two surveys by multibeam sonar and two by marine/terrestrial 23 LiDAR are used to evaluate the geomorphology of the seafloor in littoral areas of the 24 Canadian Arctic Channels, near King William Island, Nunavut. Submarine terrains show 25 well-preserved glacial landforms (drumlins, mega-scale glacial lineations, iceberg- 26 turbated terrain, recessional moraines, and glaciofluvial landforms) with only slight 27 modification by modern processes (wave action and sea-ice activity). At Gjoa Haven the 28 seafloor is imprinted by fields of pits 2 m-wide and 0.15 m-deep. They may result from 29 gas hydrate dissolution triggered by falling relative sea levels. The Arctic Archipelago 30 displays what might be termed “inverted terrains”: marine terrains, chiefly beach ridge 31 complexes, exist above modern seaDraft level and well-preserved glacial terrains are present 32 below modern sea level. This is the inverse of the submerging regimes of Atlantic 33 Canada, where glacial terrains exist on land, but below sea level they have been effaced 34 and modified by marine processes down to the lowstand depth. 35 36 Key words: Canadian Arctic Archipelago, LiDAR, multibeam sonar, littoral zone. 2 https://mc06.manuscriptcentral.com/cjes-pubs Page 3 of 42 Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 38 39 40 41 Introduction 42 43 Since 2003 the Ocean Mapping Group, University of New Brunswick, has been 44 collecting depth, backscatter, and sub-bottom data from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago 45 using the CCGS Amundsen. These data have been highly valuable in providing 46 information on the marine geology of the Arctic seafloor (e.g., see Bennett et al. 2016; 47 MacLean et al. 2010, 2016a,b). However, since the passage of the survey vessel has been 48 mainly through the middle of poorly-chartedDraft channels, analyses of the data arguably 49 provide a non-representative view of the Arctic seafloor. The channels have been the 50 conduits for major ice streams (Clark and Stokes, 2001; Margold et al., 2015) and thus 51 the multibeam imagery tends to show deep-water glacial lineations created by fast- 52 flowing grounded ice (MacLean et al., 2010), or ice-stream convergence zones 53 (Dowdeswell et al., 2016). 54 In this paper we offer a differing (and complementary) view of the Arctic Channels 55 seafloor, based primarily on analysis of multibeam sonar and marine/terrestrial LiDAR 56 data collected by the Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) in four coastal areas. We 57 have no ground-truthing information (cores, bottom photographs, grab samples) and 58 unlike the CCGS Amundsen surveys, 3.5 kHz sub-bottom profile data are not available. 59 Nevertheless these new data provide intriguing and sometimes enigmatic glimpses of the 3 https://mc06.manuscriptcentral.com/cjes-pubs Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Page 4 of 42 60 seafloor in the littoral portions of the channels that dissect the Canadian Arctic 61 Archipelago. 62 63 Using four data sets, our goals are to: 64 65 Demonstrate the complexity of the seafloor at the four sites, and also explore the 66 differences between them. 67 Report on the glacial landforms that dominate the submarine landscapes, and link 68 them with known processes (e.g., ice streaming events). 69 Describe enigmatic seafloor features at one of the study areas (Gjoa Haven). 70 Demonstrate that the dominantDraft submarine morphology in this emergent region is 71 glacial in origin, in contrast with the submerging littoral zones of Atlantic 72 Canada, where glacial landforms have been effaced during the postglacial 73 transgression. 74 75 Geological setting 76 77 The study consists of the southwestern part of the Canadian Arctic Channels (Fig. 1), 78 in the vicinity of King William Island and the Boothia Peninsula. King William Island is 79 composed entirely of Late Cambrian to Ludlow Arctic Platform rocks: dolostone, 80 dolomitic limestone, limestone, etc. (Harrison et al., 2015). The study sites fall within the 81 area glaciated by the Laurentide Ice Sheet (Dyke and Prest, 1987; Dyke et al., 2002). The 82 most recent authors describe the glacial history from a terrestrial perspective, with an 4 https://mc06.manuscriptcentral.com/cjes-pubs Page 5 of 42 Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 83 emphasis on the role of ice streaming (Clark and Stokes, 2001; De Angelis, H. 2007; 84 Margold et al., 2015, 2018; Tremblay, 2017). The M’Clintock Ice Stream is a dominant 85 feature in reconstructions, and while it is strongest north of the study area, Queen Maud 86 Gulf and northern King William Island fall within its catchment. Eastern King William 87 Island is likely within the catchment of an ice stream that drained northeast into the Gulf 88 of Boothia (see Fig. 3, Margold et al., 2015). These ice-stream events represent single 89 phases in the life of the ice sheet, and terrestrial evidence shows evidence of many flow 90 directions (De Angelis and Kleman, 2005; Dyke et al., 1991; Tremblay, 2017). 91 As a result of glacial isostasy, the lateness of deglaciation, as well as tectonism on the 92 Boothia Peninsula, relative sea-level histories in the region are dominated by emergence. 93 King William Island was deglaciatedDraft about 8.8 to 8.6 14C yrs ka (~9.6–9.9 cal yrs BP) 94 (Dyke and Prest, 1987) and the entire island is below marine limit. Dyke et al. (1991) 95 stated that relative sea level was higher than the highest land at 120 m, and data from the 96 adjacent mainland suggests it was probably at 180 m. More recent work on King 97 William Island (Dyke and Savelle, 2009) shows that relative sea level was +55 m at 6 ka, 98 and fell rapidly, reaching +20 m at 3.5 ka and +5 m at 1 ka. The chief geomorphic 99 effect of this sea-level regime was the creation of raised beaches that yield information 100 not only on relative sea-level history (Dyke et al., 1991) but also archaeology (Dyke and 101 Savelle, 2009). 102 Data from multibeam sonar surveys in the Arctic Channels, available online 103 (University of New Brunswick, 2019), provide some information on the nature of the sea 104 floor. Within the study region data have been collected in multiple years along two 105 routes, Franklin Strait and M’Clintock Channel, that converge in Victoria Strait. Thus, 5 https://mc06.manuscriptcentral.com/cjes-pubs Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences Page 6 of 42 106 MacLean et al. (2016c) show mega-scale glacial lineations (MSGL) on the floor of 107 Franklin Strait, between Prince of Wales Island and the Boothia Peninsula. This was an 108 area in which the merged routes provide extensive coverage. Surveys closer to the study 109 area (in Victoria Strait) are narrow strips that are difficult to decipher—they show an 110 irregular sea floor with variable sediment thickness, possible iceberg furrows and 111 possible streamlined glacial landforms. 112 Most of the area is ice free from 20th August until 8th October (Canadian Ice Service, 113 2019). Oceanographic modeling (Chen et al., 2003) shows that maximum bottom tidal 114 currents (Fig. 1b) are relatively low (0.05 m sec-1) throughout the region, but much higher 115 at straits. Thus maximum bottom currents at Alexandra Strait (site 3, Fig. 1) attain 0.4 m 116 sec-1. Significant wave heights (Fig.Draft 1c) show a different spatial distribution from 117 currents. Wave height is low in Victoria Strait, but at Hat Island (site 1, Fig. 1), in the 118 large fetch area of Queen Maud Gulf, the maximum wave height reaches 3–4m. At James 119 Ross Strait (site 2) and Gjoa Haven (site 3) wave heights are < 1 m, likely due to short 120 fetches which constrain wave development. 121 122 Methods 123 Four data sets were collected during surveys commissioned by the Canadian 124 Hydrographic Service, Central and Arctic Region. 125 126 1) Hat Island – marine/terrestrial LiDAR.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Transits of the Northwest Passage to End of the 2019 Navigation Season Atlantic Ocean ↔ Arctic Ocean ↔ Pacific Ocean
    TRANSITS OF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE TO END OF THE 2019 NAVIGATION SEASON ATLANTIC OCEAN ↔ ARCTIC OCEAN ↔ PACIFIC OCEAN R. K. Headland and colleagues 12 December 2019 Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB2 1ER. <[email protected]> The earliest traverse of the Northwest Passage was completed in 1853 but used sledges over the sea ice of the central part of Parry Channel. Subsequently the following 314 complete maritime transits of the Northwest Passage have been made to the end of the 2019 navigation season, before winter began and the passage froze. These transits proceed to or from the Atlantic Ocean (Labrador Sea) in or out of the eastern approaches to the Canadian Arctic archipelago (Lancaster Sound or Foxe Basin) then the western approaches (McClure Strait or Amundsen Gulf), across the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea of the Arctic Ocean, through the Bering Strait, from or to the Bering Sea of the Pacific Ocean. The Arctic Circle is crossed near the beginning and the end of all transits except those to or from the central or northern coast of west Greenland. The routes and directions are indicated. Details of submarine transits are not included because only two have been reported (1960 USS Sea Dragon, Capt. George Peabody Steele, westbound on route 1 and 1962 USS Skate, Capt. Joseph Lawrence Skoog, eastbound on route 1). Seven routes have been used for transits of the Northwest Passage with some minor variations (for example through Pond Inlet and Navy Board Inlet) and two composite courses in summers when ice was minimal (transits 149 and 167).
    [Show full text]
  • Hydrographic and Charting Activities in the Canadian Arctic
    Canadian Hydrographic Service 7th Arctic Regional Hydrographic Commission (ARHC7) Meeting Hydrographic and Charting Activities in the Canadian Arctic Ilulissat, Greenland August 23-24, 2017 Tom Rowsell, Acting/Director CHS Burlington Office (Central & Arctic) Office 1 of 28 Prepared by: Tom Rowsell Date: July 7, 2017 Canadian Hydrographic Service Presentation will cover: Surveys and Production during 2016 fiscal year Planned Surveys and Production for 2017 fiscal year 2 of 28 Prepared by: Tom Rowsell Date: July 7, 2017 Canadian Hydrographic Service Surveys and Production during 2016 fiscal year 3 of 28 Prepared by: Tom Rowsell Date: July 7, 2017 Canadian Hydrographic Service 2016-17 Surveys and Production survey chart 4 of 28 Prepared by: Tom Rowsell Date: July 7, 2017 Canadian Hydrographic Service Chesterfield Inlet Surveys (under contract) 5 of 28 Prepared by: Tom Rowsell Date: July 7, 2017 Canadian Hydrographic Service Royal Canadian Navy – data collection (2 vessels): - Clyde River - Bellot Strait - Cape Felix - Victoria Strait 6 of 28 Prepared by: Tom Rowsell Date: July 7, 2017 Canadian Hydrographic Service CCGS Henry Larsen – data collection: - Milne Inlet (7212) - Fury and Hecla Strait (7487) - Falcon Strait (7404) 7 of 28 Prepared by: Tom Rowsell Date: July 7, 2017 Canadian Hydrographic Service Arctic Navigational Publications released during 2016 fiscal year 8 of 28 Prepared by: Tom Rowsell Date: July 7, 2017 Canadian Hydrographic Service New ENC and Paper chart for Hat Island (Putulik) 9 of 28 Prepared by: Tom Rowsell Date:
    [Show full text]
  • Sir John Franklin and the Arctic
    SIR JOHN FRANKLIN AND THE ARCTIC REGIONS: SHOWING THE PROGRESS OF BRITISH ENTERPRISE FOR THE DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH WEST PASSAGE DURING THE NINE~EENTH CENTURY: WITH MORE DETAILED NOTICES OF THE RECENT EXPEDITIONS IN SEARCH OF THE MISSING VESSELS UNDER CAPT. SIR JOHN FRANKLIN WINTER QUARTERS IN THE A.ROTIO REGIONS. SIR JOHN FRANKLIN AND THE ARCTIC REGIONS: SHOWING FOR THE DISCOVERY OF THE NORTH-WEST PASSAGE DURING THE NINETEENTH CENTURY: WITH MORE DETAILED NOTICES OF THE RECENT EXPEDITIONS IN SEARCH OF THE MISSING VESSELS UNDER CAPT. SIR JOHN FRANKLIN. BY P. L. SIMMONDS, HONORARY AND CORRESPONDING JIIEl\lBER OF THE LITERARY AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF QUEBEC, NEW YORK, LOUISIANA, ETC, AND MANY YEARS EDITOR OF THE COLONIAL MAGAZINE, ETC, ETC, " :Miserable they Who here entangled in the gathering ice, Take their last look of the descending sun While full of death and fierce with tenfold frost, The long long night, incumbent o•er their heads, Falls horrible." Cowl'ER, LONDON: GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & CO., SOHO SQUARE. MDCCCLI. TO CAPT. SIR W. E. PARRY, R.N., LL.D., F.R.S., &c. CAPT. SIR JAMES C. ROSS, R.N., D.C.L., F.R.S. CAPT. SIR GEORGE BACK, R.N., F.R.S. DR. SIR J. RICHARDSON, R.N., C.B., F.R.S. AND THE OTHER BRAVE ARCTIC NAVIGATORS AND TRAVELLERS WHOSE ARDUOUS EXPLORING SERVICES ARE HEREIN RECORDED, T H I S V O L U M E I S, IN ADMIRATION OF THEIR GALLANTRY, HF.ROIC ENDURANCE, A.ND PERSEVERANCE OVER OBSTACLES OF NO ORDINARY CHARACTER, RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED, BY THEIR VERY OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT, THE AUTHOR.
    [Show full text]
  • Transits of the Northwest Passage to End of the 2020 Navigation Season Atlantic Ocean ↔ Arctic Ocean ↔ Pacific Ocean
    TRANSITS OF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE TO END OF THE 2020 NAVIGATION SEASON ATLANTIC OCEAN ↔ ARCTIC OCEAN ↔ PACIFIC OCEAN R. K. Headland and colleagues 7 April 2021 Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB2 1ER. <[email protected]> The earliest traverse of the Northwest Passage was completed in 1853 starting in the Pacific Ocean to reach the Atlantic Oceam, but used sledges over the sea ice of the central part of Parry Channel. Subsequently the following 319 complete maritime transits of the Northwest Passage have been made to the end of the 2020 navigation season, before winter began and the passage froze. These transits proceed to or from the Atlantic Ocean (Labrador Sea) in or out of the eastern approaches to the Canadian Arctic archipelago (Lancaster Sound or Foxe Basin) then the western approaches (McClure Strait or Amundsen Gulf), across the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea of the Arctic Ocean, through the Bering Strait, from or to the Bering Sea of the Pacific Ocean. The Arctic Circle is crossed near the beginning and the end of all transits except those to or from the central or northern coast of west Greenland. The routes and directions are indicated. Details of submarine transits are not included because only two have been reported (1960 USS Sea Dragon, Capt. George Peabody Steele, westbound on route 1 and 1962 USS Skate, Capt. Joseph Lawrence Skoog, eastbound on route 1). Seven routes have been used for transits of the Northwest Passage with some minor variations (for example through Pond Inlet and Navy Board Inlet) and two composite courses in summers when ice was minimal (marked ‘cp’).
    [Show full text]
  • Who Discovered the Northwest Passage? Janice Cavell1
    ARCTIC VOL. 71, NO.3 (SEPTEMBER 2018) P.292 – 308 https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic4733 Who Discovered the Northwest Passage? Janice Cavell1 (Received 31 January 2018; accepted in revised form 1 May 2018) ABSTRACT. In 1855 a parliamentary committee concluded that Robert McClure deserved to be rewarded as the discoverer of a Northwest Passage. Since then, various writers have put forward rival claims on behalf of Sir John Franklin, John Rae, and Roald Amundsen. This article examines the process of 19th-century European exploration in the Arctic Archipelago, the definition of discovering a passage that prevailed at the time, and the arguments for and against the various contenders. It concludes that while no one explorer was “the” discoverer, McClure’s achievement deserves reconsideration. Key words: Northwest Passage; John Franklin; Robert McClure; John Rae; Roald Amundsen RÉSUMÉ. En 1855, un comité parlementaire a conclu que Robert McClure méritait de recevoir le titre de découvreur d’un passage du Nord-Ouest. Depuis lors, diverses personnes ont avancé des prétentions rivales à l’endroit de Sir John Franklin, de John Rae et de Roald Amundsen. Cet article se penche sur l’exploration européenne de l’archipel Arctique au XIXe siècle, sur la définition de la découverte d’un passage en vigueur à l’époque, de même que sur les arguments pour et contre les divers prétendants au titre. Nous concluons en affirmant que même si aucun des explorateurs n’a été « le » découvreur, les réalisations de Robert McClure méritent d’être considérées de nouveau. Mots clés : passage du Nord-Ouest; John Franklin; Robert McClure; John Rae; Roald Amundsen Traduit pour la revue Arctic par Nicole Giguère.
    [Show full text]
  • Information in Support of the Identification of Ecologically
    Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Research Document 2018/027 Central and Arctic Region Information in Support of the Identification of Ecologically Significant Species, Functional Groups and Community Properties (ESSCP) in the Western Arctic Biogeographic Region D.G. Cobb1, S. MacPhee1, J. Paulic1, K. Martin1, V. Roy2, J. Reist1, C. Michel1, A. Niemi1, E. Richardson3, and A. Black4 1Fisheries and Oceans Canada Freshwater Institute 501 University Crescent Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6 2Canadian Museum of Nature PO Box 3443, Station D Ottawa, ON, K1P6P4 3Environment and Climate Change Canada Eastgate Offices 9250 – 49th Street Edmonton, AB, T6B 1K5 4Environment and Climate Change Canada 1125 Colonel By Drive Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3 November 2020 Foreword This series documents the scientific basis for the evaluation of aquatic resources and ecosystems in Canada. As such, it addresses the issues of the day in the time frames required and the documents it contains are not intended as definitive statements on the subjects addressed but rather as progress reports on ongoing investigations. Published by: Fisheries and Oceans Canada Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat 200 Kent Street Ottawa ON K1A 0E6 http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/ [email protected] © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2020 ISSN 1919-5044 Correct citation for this publication: Cobb, D.G., MacPhee, S., Paulic, J., Martin, K., Roy, V., Reist, J., Michel, C., Niemi, A., Richardson, E., and Black, A. 2020. Information in Support of the Identification of Ecologically Significant Species, Functional Groups and Community Properties (ESSCP) in the Western Arctic Biogeographic Region. DFO Can.
    [Show full text]
  • Gjoa Haven © Nunavut Tourism
    NUNAVUT COASTAL RESOURCE INVENTORY ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ Department of Environment Avatiliqiyikkut Ministère de l’Environnement Gjoa Haven © Nunavut Tourism ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ Department of Environment Avatiliqiyikkut NUNAVUT COASTAL RESOURCE INVENTORY • Gjoa Haven INVENTORY RESOURCE COASTAL NUNAVUT Ministère de l’Environnement Nunavut Coastal Resource Inventory – Gjoa Haven 2011 Department of Environment Fisheries and Sealing Division Box 1000 Station 1310 Iqaluit, Nunavut, X0A 0H0 GJOA HAVEN Inventory deliverables include: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • A final report summarizing all of the activities This report is derived from the Hamlet of Gjoa Haven undertaken as part of this project; and represents one component of the Nunavut Coastal Resource Inventory (NCRI). “Coastal inventory”, as used • Provision of the coastal resource inventory in a GIS here, refers to the collection of information on coastal database; resources and activities gained from community interviews, research, reports, maps, and other resources. This data is • Large-format resource inventory maps for the Hamlet presented in a series of maps. of Gjoa Haven, Nunavut; and Coastal resource inventories have been conducted in • Key recommendations on both the use of this study as many jurisdictions throughout Canada, notably along the well as future initiatives. Atlantic and Pacific coasts. These inventories have been used as a means of gathering reliable information on During the course of this project, Gjoa Haven was visited on coastal resources to facilitate their strategic assessment, two occasions:
    [Show full text]
  • Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott: Amundsen’S Earlier Voyages and Experience
    Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott: Amundsen’s earlier voyages and experience. • Roald Amundsen joined the Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897–99) as first mate. • This expedition, led by Adrien de Gerlache using the ship the RV Belgica, became the first expedition to winter in Antarctica. Voyage in research vessel Belgica. • The Belgica, whether by mistake or design, became locked in the sea ice at 70°30′S off Alexander Island, west of the Antarctic Peninsula. • The crew endured a winter for which they were poorly prepared. • RV Belgica frozen in the ice, 1898. Gaining valuable experience. • By Amundsen's own estimation, the doctor for the expedition, the American Frederick Cook, probably saved the crew from scurvy by hunting for animals and feeding the crew fresh meat • In cases where citrus fruits are lacking, fresh meat from animals that make their own vitamin C (which most do) contains enough of the vitamin to prevent scurvy, and even partly treat it. • This was an important lesson for Amundsen's future expeditions. Frederick Cook с. 1906. Another successful voyage. • In 1903, Amundsen led the first expedition to successfully traverse Canada's Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. • He planned a small expedition of six men in a 45-ton fishing vessel, Gjøa, in order to have flexibility. Gjøa today. Sailing westward. • His ship had relatively shallow draft. This was important since the depth of the sea was about a metre in some places. • His technique was to use a small ship and hug the coast. Amundsen had the ship outfitted with a small gasoline engine.
    [Show full text]
  • Transits of the Northwest Passage to End of the 2016 Navigation Season Atlantic Ocean ↔ Arctic Ocean ↔ Pacific Ocean
    TRANSITS OF THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE TO END OF THE 2016 NAVIGATION SEASON ATLANTIC OCEAN ↔ ARCTIC OCEAN ↔ PACIFIC OCEAN R. K. Headland revised 14 November 2016 Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB2 1ER. The earliest traverse of the Northwest Passage was completed in 1853 but used sledges over the sea ice of the central part of Parry Channel. Subsequently the following 255 complete maritime transits of the Northwest Passage have been made to the end of the 2016 navigation season, before winter began and the passage froze. These transits proceed to or from the Atlantic Ocean (Labrador Sea) in or out of the eastern approaches to the Canadian Arctic archipelago (Lancaster Sound or Foxe Basin) then the western approaches (McClure Strait or Amundsen Gulf), across the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea of the Arctic Ocean, from or to the Pacific Ocean (Bering Sea) through the Bering Strait. The Arctic Circle is crossed near the beginning and the end of all transits except those to or from the west coast of Greenland. The routes and directions are indicated. Details of submarine transits are not included because only two have been reported (1960 USS Sea Dragon, Capt. George Peabody Steele, westbound on route 1 and 1962 USS Skate, Capt. Joseph Lawrence Skoog, eastbound on route 1). Seven routes have been used for transits of the Northwest Passage with some minor variations (for example through Pond Inlet and Navy Board Inlet) and two composite courses in summers when ice was minimal (transits 154 and 171). These are shown on the map following, and proceed as follows: 1: Davis Strait, Lancaster Sound, Barrow Strait, Viscount Melville Sound, McClure Strait, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, Bering Strait.
    [Show full text]
  • Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters
    Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters Published by: Icebreaking Program, Maritime Services Canadian Coast Guard Fisheries and Oceans Canada Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E6 Cat. No. Fs154-31/2012E-PDF ISBN 978-1-100-20610-3 Revised August 2012 ©Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada 2012 Important Notice – For Copyright and Permission to Reproduce, please refer to: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/notices-avis-eng.htm Note : Cette publication est aussi disponible en français. Cover photo: CCGS Henry Larsen in Petermann Fjord, Greenland, by ice island in August 2012. Canadian Coast Guard Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters Record of Amendments RECORD OF AMENDMENTS TO ICE NAVIGATION IN CANADIAN WATERS (2012 VERSION) FROM MONTHLY NOTICES TO MARINERS NOTICES TO INSERTED DATE SUBJECT MARINERS # BY Note: Any inquiries as to the contents of this publication or reports of errors or omissions should be directed to [email protected] Revised August 2012 Page i of 153 Canadian Coast Guard Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters Foreword FOREWORD Ice Navigation in Canadian Waters is published by the Canadian Coast Guard in collaboration with Transport Canada Marine Safety, the Canadian Ice Service of Environment Canada and the Canadian Hydrographic Service of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The publication is intended to assist ships operating in ice in all Canadian waters, including the Arctic. This document will provide Masters and watchkeeping crew of vessels transiting Canadian ice-covered waters with the necessary understanding of the regulations, shipping support services, hazards and navigation techniques in ice. Chapter 1, Icebreaking and Shipping Support Services, pertains to operational considerations, such as communications and reporting requirements as well as ice advisories and icebreaker support within Canadian waters.
    [Show full text]
  • "One of the Great Polar Navigators": Captain T.C. Pullen's Personal
    Documents on Canadian Arctic Sovereignty and Security “One of the Great Polar Navigators” Captain T.C. Pullen’s Personal Records of Arctic Voyages Part 1: Government Roles Edited by P. Whitney Lackenbauer & Elizabeth Elliot-Meisel Documents on Canadian Arctic Sovereignty and Security (DCASS) ISSN 2368-4569 Series Editors: P. Whitney Lackenbauer Adam Lajeunesse Managing Editor: Ryan Dean “One of the Great Polar Navigators”: Captain T.C. Pullen’s Personal Records of Arctic Voyages, Volume 1: Official Roles P. Whitney Lackenbauer and Elizabeth Elliot-Meisel DCASS Number 12, 2018 Cover: Department of National Defence, Directorate of History and Heritage, BIOG P: Pullen, Thomas Charles, file 2004/55, folder 1. Cover design: Whitney Lackenbauer Centre for Military, Security and Centre on Foreign Policy and Federalism Strategic Studies St. Jerome’s University University of Calgary 290 Westmount Road N. 2500 University Dr. N.W. Waterloo, ON N2L 3G3 Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Tel: 519.884.8110 ext. 28233 Tel: 403.220.4030 www.sju.ca/cfpf www.cmss.ucalgary.ca Arctic Institute of North America University of Calgary 2500 University Drive NW, ES-1040 Calgary, AB T2N 1N4 Tel: 403-220-7515 http://arctic.ucalgary.ca/ Copyright © the authors/editors, 2018 Permission policies are outlined on our website http://cmss.ucalgary.ca/research/arctic-document-series “One of the Great Polar Navigators”: Captain T.C. Pullen’s Personal Records of Arctic Voyages Volume 1: Official Roles P. Whitney Lackenbauer, Ph.D. and Elizabeth Elliot-Meisel, Ph.D. Table of Contents Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................. i Acronyms ............................................................................................................... xlv Part 1: H.M.C.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Estimating the Abundance of the M'clintock Channel
    ESTIMATING THE ABUNDANCE OF THE M’CLINTOCK CHANNEL POLAR BEAR SUB-POPULATION BY GENETIC MARK-RECAPTURE INTERIM REPORT TO THE NUNAVUT WILDLIFE RESEARCH TRUST 28 August 2015 NWRT PROJECT NUMBER: 2-15-05 PCSP PROJECT NUMBER: 302-15 PROJECT LEADER: GN Department of Environment M. Dyck Polar Bear Biologist II Department of Environment Wildlife Research Section Government of Nunavut Box 209 Igloolik, NU X0A-0L0 Phone: (867) 934-2181 Fax: (867) 934-2190 [email protected] FIELD PARTICIPANT M. Harte Polar Bear Harvest Lab Technician Page 1 of 22 SUMMARY M’Clintock Channel (MC) is a smaller polar bear sub-population managed entirely by Nunavut. An initial mark-recapture study (1973-1978) estimated that the population size of both MC and Gulf of Boothia (GB) was a combined 1081 polar bears, not identifying these units as being distinct separate units. The known biased estimate was increased to 900 bears for each unit, given that the harvest at that time was believed to be sustainable. After local knowledge suggested that the population abundance appeared to be low, the population size was lowered to 700. A new population study was conducted between 1998 and 2000 which estimated the MC polar bear population to be 284 bears. Past harvests of 34 bears/year from 1979-1999 were unsustainable, and a moratorium from 2001/2002 – 2003/2004 was implemented, followed by a reduction in Total Allowable Harvest. Because of this reduction in harvest opportunities, hunters and communities that traditionally harvested from MC have lost economic and traditional prospects. The MC population has been managed for recovery, and recent local knowledge suggests that in fact more bears are observed in various areas across MC.
    [Show full text]