Observations of the Beach Environment of Southwest Devon Island, Northwest Territories with Special Reference to the Role of Ice

Abstract

<p> The open water season of Radstock Bay is less than three months long and varies considerably from year to year. The break-up and ablation sequence of the bay is regular and systematic, commencing with a period of snow melt and run off and continuing until the dramatic evacuation of the ice. This evacuation is dependent on the ice coverage of Lancaster Sound. The ice foot, a feature found often on arctic beaches was found to be larger in areas of more shallow sloping beaches. A sediment size analysis revealed a trend of diminuation of grain size from S. to N. reflecting net sediment transport in that direction. The two major geomorphic events of the 1971 open water, were two storms, both of which had winds from the S.E. that generated 1.0 meter waves which moved sediment from S. to N. The importance of a small pack of ice in the nearshore zone in inhibiting wave action was noted during one of these events. The freeze-up sequence progressed slowly after the advent of sub-freezing temperatures until the temperature of the seawater reached its freezing point, whereupon the rapid covering of the bay with ice ensued.</p>