Part I: A Description of the Penny Ice Cap, its Accumulation and Ablation

Abstract

The Penny Ice Cap on the Cumberland Peninsula of Baffin Island, N.W.T., Canada, was studied during the summer of 1953. This ice cap has an area of some 5900 sq. km. and rests on a 2000 m. high mountain range. It has ten major outflowing glaciers, three of which reach the sea in fjords. The progress of snow accumulation and ablation and the net annual loss or gain of water at various altitudes on the ice cap are recorded. The firn line is at about 1550 m. and the outflowing glaciers are noticeably retreating.