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Several helo flights were taken today to the western margin of Devon Island's eastern ice field. This area is perpetually covered with ice. This ice field seems to be receeding at this time, in other words it is loosing more ice than it accumulates, a normal process. We traveled to the ice field to examine the formation of ice marginal drainage, which may be the early developmental stage of some of the valley networks seen on Devon Island. Similar landforms are also seen on Mars and thus may have similar origins.
We set down on the edge of the ice field on a patch of snow and set out to scout the surrounding area. Several channels were carved in the ice near the landing site. A torrent of crystal clear melt water off the ice field sloshed down the narrow channels. The ice field is underlain by limestone, which appears as blocky boulders and cobbles which have been shattered by ice and weathered by the water flowing over them. The exposed boulders in turn absorb sunlight and further accelerate the melting process. The sun was shining and it was relatively warm, at about 60 degrees. The ice field is a beautiful place.