Polar Continental Shelf Program Science Report 2014: Logistical support for leading-edge scientific research in the Canadian Arctic

ABSTRACTOn 19 March 1930 the German geologist, Hans K.E. Krüger, accompanied by a Dane, Åge Rose Bjare, and an Inughuk, Akqioq (the latter driving their dog sledge) set off westwards from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police post at Bache Peninsula, Ellesmere Island; two support sledges, driven by Inughuit, escorted them. It appears to have been Krüger's intention to study the geology of the coasts of the outer islands of the Canadian Arctic archipelago and to carry out soundings of the continental shelf and slope. The two support sledges turned back at Depot Point, Eureka Sound. Krüger, Bjare, and Akqioq were never seen again. This article reviews Krüger's background, his preparations for the expedition (which included two summers of field work in West Greenland and a wintering in northwest Greenland), and the extensive searches mounted by the RCMP in 1931 and 1932. Finally, it analyzes the evidence provided by three messages left by Krüger and subsequently recovered, with a view to making an educated guess as to the fate of the expedition.

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Polar Continental Shelf Program Science Report 2010-2011

10.4095/292879 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Continental Shelf ◽

Program Science

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Palaeoenvironmental Interpretation of Late Quaternary Marine Molluscan Assemblages, Canadian Arctic Archipelago

Géographie physique et Quaternaire ◽

10.7202/005650ar ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 54 (3) ◽

pp. 301-315 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Sandra Gordillo ◽

Alec E. Aitken

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Species Composition ◽

Continental Shelf ◽

Marine Sediments ◽

High Latitude ◽

Late Quaternary ◽

Canadian Arctic ◽

High Arctic ◽

Canadian Arctic Archipelago ◽

Preservation Potential

Abstract This study examines neonto- logical and palaeontological data pertaining to arctic marine molluscs with the goal of reconstructing the palaeoecology of Late Quaternary ca. 12-1 ka BP glaciomarine environments in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. A total of 26 taxa that represent 15 bivalves and 11 gastropods were recorded in shell collections recovered from Prince of Wales, Somerset, Devon, Axel Heiberg and Ellesmere islands. In spite of taphonomic bias, the observed fossil faunas bear strong similarities to modern benthic molluscan faunas inhabiting high latitude continental shelf environments, reflecting the high preservation potential of molluscan taxa in Quaternary marine sediments. The dominance of an arctic-boreal fauna represented by Hiatella arctica, Mya truncata and Astarte borealis is the product of natural ecological conditions in high arctic glaciomarine environments. Environmental factors controlling the distribution and species composition of the Late Quaternary molluscan assemblages from this region are discussed.

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