Boulder on ice pedestal

Location: Aktineq Glacier, Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada

Above a certain size, surface boulders insulate underlying ice in the ablation zone. This photograph presents a classic example. During the ablation season, heat radiating from these boulders probably melts surrounding ice at a rate exceeding that of bare ice. This was probably taken about halfway through the ablation season. Ice pick is approximately one meter long.

Updated 03/29/2010 AW