Sediment and ice frozen into the mouth of a conduit

Location: Aktineq Glacier, Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada

Sediment and ice that was frozen into a conduit after it became inactive at the surface, about 200 meters above the base of Aktineq Glacier. These features appear as low cones of debris at the glacier surface because, as the surrounding clear ice ablates, the melted-out debris insulates the ice-sediment structure. Near this feature were noted partially frozen-in conduits with frazil ice, indicative of supercooled meltwater. These muddy, cone-shaped features are common in the snout areas of southern Bylot Island glaciers and represent several generations of fountain activity. Fountains are particularly active during summer precipitation events at the height of the ablation season.

Updated 03/30/2010 AW