Eclipse SoundThis major channel separates northern Baffin Island from Bylot Island, and is 11 km wide at its narrowest. Our crossing point (by helicopter) was from Pond Inlet, the settlement on Baffin Island to Sermilik Glacier. In early July the sound was frozen over, but riddled with melt-pools. A few leads showed the early stages of break-up. Late in the month much of the ice in the sound had broken up, but large floes with melt-pools remained. |
Eclipse Sound from above Pond Inlet, showing rapidly melting fast ice and floes in a shore lead. Bylot Island is in the background. | The village of Pond Inlet, and looking east along Eclipse Sound over open water in the foreground and melting fast ice beyond. | View across Eclipse Sound to Sermillik Glacier on Bylot Island. Fast ice with surface melt pools and a distinctive fracture (“lead”) extends across the sound. | Clouds and sunlight enhance the mottled effect of melting fast ice in Eclipse Sound. Bylot Island on the left and Baffin Island on the right. |
The mountains of Bylot Island rise shear from the edge of Eclipse Sound, and are reflected in the surface meltwater on the fast ice. | Surface meltwater on fast ice in Eclipse Sound has a greenish blue appearance, and contrast strongly with the white ice that still remains exposed. | Detailed view of the fast ice in Eclipse Sound, with fractures exposing sea water that are almost black. | Looking back across Eclipse Sound from Bylot Island towards Baffin Island later in the season. The sea ice is breaking up into large floes and there is extensive open water on the far side of the Sound. |