Quvviqquaq - Grease Ice

Indigenous Knowledge

Quvviqquaq ᖁᕝᕕᖅᑯᐊᖅ
‘ᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹ ᖁᐊᑉᐸᓪᓕᐊᓐᓂᖓ, ᖁᕝᕕᐅᑦᑐ ᖁᐊ ᐊᓄᕋᔮᑦᑎᓗᒍ. ᓂᓕᕝᕙᓕᐊᔪᖅ ᑕᕆᐅ, ᖁᐊᐸᓪᓕᐊᔪ ᑕᑭᔪᑯᑖᒃ.
Sivulliqpaa quappallianninga, quvviuttu qua anurajaattilugu. nilivvaliajuq tariu, quapalliaju takijukutaak.
First stage of freeze up. When ice is forming and the wind is stretching out the ice and elongating it. It looks like frozen tears. When the ice is slush it can create light and glow, but only during this slushy phase.’
(North Qikiqtaaluk, Mittimatalik, Sikumiut Sea Ice Terminology 2022: 65)

Quvviliukkaajuq ᖁᕝᕕᓕᐅᒃᑳᔪᖅ
‘The occurrence of smooth patches in the water (diluted with snow) that look shiny, caused by the influence of the North wind. WMO term: grease ice.' (South Qikiqtaaluk, Kinngait, Inuit Siku Atlas)

Western Knowledge

Grease Ice
‘A later stage of freezing than frazil ice when the crystals have coagulated to form a soupy layer on the surface. Grease ice reflects little light, giving the sea a matt appearance.’ (WMO)

Profile photo credit: Jonathan Delisle