present even in many strictly confined regions of this area. Again, it.. 

 is apparent that a balanced presentation of the distribution of ice must - 

 be made consisted with its development in space and time as well as its 

 many facet s„ Therefore, for the purpose of clearer presentation, the 

 region of Baffin Bay and Davis Strait has been divided into several 

 coastal and open water sections with a description of the ice from the 

 time of its initial significant appearance to the period of initial dis- 

 integration. 



Glacial ice in some forms is much less dependent on the factors which 

 control the distribution of sea ice. Because of its nearly independent 

 nature, aspects peculiar to it are described in a separate section. 



The symbols indicating ice features on the accompanying charts, are 

 those of standard Hydrographic Office ice chart presentations. Ice termi- 

 nology is that of H. 0. Pub» No. 609 "A Function Glossary of Ice Terminology." 



B. BAFFIN BAY 



Thule and Approaches - Generally, ic© first begins to form in North 

 Star Bay in the beginning of October, In the latter part of the month, 

 it attains a thickness of as much as 15 inches and extends as a continuous, 

 almost flat layer, as far as Wolstenholme and Saunder 0er. To the north of 

 Saunder it joins the fast ice formed earlier along the opposite shore. 

 As the season progresses, the ice thickens and may reach 30 inches by the 

 end of November. In December it may attain a thickness of 40 inches, 

 growing thereafter month by month j in April and early May, it attains a 

 thickness of more than 70 inches. 



The ice is thickest in the immediate vicinity of the shores, becoming 

 thin in the approaches to Wolstenholme and Saunder 0er where it has a depth 

 in the range of 4 to 5 feet. Small danger areas exist between Saunder 

 and the small islands of Kekertarssuit to the north, where the ice is often 

 very thin and disappears with first period of warming in the Thule area. 



The ice of North Star Bay is quite smooth and flat. In some winters, 

 an upthrust of sea ice occurs in the shoal vicinity of the pier. Bergs 

 and bergy bits are present in the bay the year around and usually are 

 lodged in the ice. The greatest quantity of glacial ice is found in the 

 fjord itself and may be regarded as generally unsuitable for aircraft 

 landings. 



Melting of the ice sets in during the latter part of May and puddling 

 is general in June. 



High winds may force the removal of most of the ice in North Star Bay 

 as early as mid-June j if the winds are absent, the ice will linger in the 

 bay as late as 10 July. The ice in the fjord north of Thule has a rough 

 contour, contains large quantities of glacial fragments, and is usually the 

 last to leave this coastal indentation. 



