A breathtaking satellite image taken by NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) on June 12, 2012, reveals a mesmerizing sight: a quartet of nearly identical glaciers, like four majestic sentinels, standing tall amidst the rugged peaks of Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic. These glacial giants, known as Nukapingwa, Arklio, Perkeo, and Midget (from left to right in the image), each stretch for approximately 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) in length and boast an average width of around 2,000 feet (600 meters). They are nestled along the northern ridge of the Oobloyah Valley, at the heart of Ellesmere Island, the 10th largest island on Earth and Canada’s northernmost landmass.
Ellesmere Island, despite being largely ice-free year-round, presents a formidable challenge for life. Temperatures swing wildly from a summer high of 37.9 degrees Fahrenheit (3.3 degrees Celsius) to a bone-chilling winter low of minus 36 F (minus 38 C). Precipitation is scarce, barely exceeding 2.5 inches (6.4 centimeters) annually, earning it the moniker of a polar desert. This harsh environment explains why, despite its size comparable to the United Kingdom, only 144 people call Ellesmere Island home (as of 2021).
However, amidst this desolate landscape, the glaciers become unexpected life-givers. The seasonal meltwater cascading from their icy depths provides the Oobloyah Valley with a precious lifeline of moisture, nurturing a sparse but resilient blanket of vegetation. This, in turn, forms the foundation of a food web that sustains Arctic hares, muskoxen, wolves, and polar bears, a testament to the incredible resilience of life in the face of adversity. (It is worth noting that Ellesmere means “land of muskoxen” in French.)
At the glacial tongues, where the ice meets the ground, lie slim crescents of rough, jagged terrain called moraines. These moraines are the remnants of the glaciers’ retreat up the valley’s ridge, left behind as churned-up earth. They represent a blank canvas for life, completely devoid of vegetation when initially freed from the glaciers’ immense weight. For scientists, these moraines are invaluable testbeds to study how Arctic plants colonize new land.
In a 2013 study, Japanese researchers conducted extensive fieldwork at the moraine surrounding the Arklio glacier. They discovered that two hardy plant species, Dwarf fireweed (Epilobium latifolium) and a type of creeping willow (Salix arctica), swiftly colonize the space, paving the way for other species to follow. This fascinating process paints a picture of life’s tenacity and adaptability in even the most unforgiving environments.
Sadly, the specter of human-caused climate change looms large over these glacial sentinels. A 2018 study, comparing satellite photos of over 1,700 glaciers on Ellesmere Island, revealed a stark reality: the ice masses had collectively lost around 6% of their total ice between 1999 and 2015. While this retreat might initially seem to offer more space for plants to grow, the long-term consequences are far more ominous. As the glaciers shrink, so does the crucial meltwater they release into the polar desert, potentially jeopardizing the entire Ellesmere ecosystem. The future of this unique and fragile Arctic landscape hangs in the balance, a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of life and the urgent need to address climate change.