A first approximation of the volume of ground ice, Richards Island, Pleistocene Mackenzie delta, Northwest Territories, Canada

Abstract

Using data contained in the Mackenzie Valley Geotechnical Data Bank together with data derived from morphometric analyses of topographic maps and air photographs, the volume of ground ice present in the upper 10 m of Richards Island is calculated to be 10.27 km3. Pore and segregated ice constitute over 80% of the total ice volume. Wedge ice constitutes between 12 and 16% of total ice volume in the upper 4.5 m, and approximately 36% of all excess ice. In the upper 1–2 m, wedge ice may exceed 50% of earth materials. Pingo ice is insignificant in terms of its contribution to total ice volumes. Excess ice constitutes 14% of the upper 10 m of permafrost; it follows that thawing of this layer of permafrost may lead to an average subsidence of 1.4 m.The results of this study are probably typical of other areas of the Pleistocene Mackenzie delta. There is also general agreement with data obtained from arctic Alaska.