Glaciers and Climate of Spitzbergen. 99 



then exposed to an internal temperature sufficiently low, freezes the whole 

 into a solid body." 



The largest icebergs are situated on the west side of the island ; which, as 

 in all Arctic countries, is always the warmest : they occupy valleys sheltered 

 by the adjacent heights, opening towards the sea. Now, how is it possible 

 that, in such situations, the snow flake could accommodate itself to a partial 

 thawing and freezing again, if, on the adjoining mountain tops, 3000 or 4000 

 feet high, the snow is wholly dissolved ? Mr Scoresby, however, alleges, that 

 such really happens, and thinks that these icebergs, by a continuation of this 

 thawing and freezing of snow, are able,— notwithstanding the elevated tempera, 

 ture, " the dismemberment from the lower edge, producing these mountain- 

 ous masses found floating on the ocean, and the avalanches from the moun. 

 tain summit," are able, — not only " to prevent diminution of the parent gla- 

 cier," but to produce a " perpetual increase." 



Mr Scoresby finishes his remarks on my observations with the following : 

 '• What facts Dr Latta can bring forward to shew that a thawing temperature 

 never occurs so high as 7791 feet I know not, especially when, by observation 

 of the thermometer, I found the temperature in Spitzbergen so high as 37. 

 at midnight at an elevation of 3000 feet." The few facts which have been 

 already produced are, in our humble opinion, sufficient for the end they have 

 to serve. However, as our author seems to lay some stress on the above ob- 

 servation, and adduces it for our notice, we will surely not be deemed for- 

 ward if we make free Avith it. 



We have already noticed, that Mr Scoresby reared his estimate of the 

 altitude of perpetual frost over Spitzbergen, on the most elevated temperature 

 recorded there, as observed by Commodore Phipps during a voyage towards 

 the North Pole. That commander, while he tarried in Vogel Sang, near the 

 rendezvous of the present expedition under Captain Parry, pitched his tent 

 on a low flat island in the sound. The position was highly favourable to the 

 accumulation of the heat of the sun ; accordingly the thermometer rose, on one 

 occasion in July, to 58i°. Guided by which observation, Mr Scoresby, al- 

 lowing 90 yards of altitude for every degree of decrease, estimates the height 

 of perpetual frost at 7791 feet. "Hence," says he, "we may reckon this 

 about the altitude of the upper line of congelation, where frost perpetually 

 prevails." ;But, even at the time when Commodore Phipps noted this tem- 

 perature, the mountains were covered with snow, nor did he ever see any ri- 

 vulets which the liquefaction of snow, had the high temperature been general, 

 would have produced. The low ice skirting the northern shores of the island 

 was covered with snow. And though it was July, the little pools on the ice 

 in the neighbourhood of the Sound were sometimes frozen over. These strag- 

 gling circumstances certainly shew that the high temperature was local, and 

 if local, afforded no grounds for Mr Scoresby's calculations ; ,but he thinks 

 otherwise, and endeavours to give stability to an untenable allegation, by 

 adducing an observation of his own : " I found," says he, " the temperature 

 in Spitzbergen so high as 37° at midnight, at an elevation of 3000 feet." On 

 this occasion I had again the pleasure of accompanying him. 



The thermometer, placed among stones in the shade on the brow oftlwhill, 



G 2 



