Scientific Results of the Katmai Expeditions of the 

 National Geographic Society. 



I. THE RECOVERY OF VEGETATION AT KODIAK.* 



Robert F. Griggs. 

 PREFATORY NOTE. 



When its magnitude is fully understood by the scientific 

 world, the eruption of Katmai is certain to rank with that of 

 Krakatoa as a unique exhibition of the forces of vulcanism. 

 To the National Geographic Society alone belongs the credit 

 of having made known to the world this tremendous eruption. 

 As soon as the news came that there had been a great volcanic 

 explosion in Alaska, the society dispatched Dr. Geo. C. Martin 

 to the scene. His report published in the National Geographic 

 Magazine for February, 1913, remains the only detailed record 

 of the events of the eruption. This first study was followed 

 up by three other expeditions under the direction of the writer, 

 whose results have been summarized in the National Geographic 

 Magazine for January, 1917 and February, 1918. 



The purpose of the society in sending these expeditions was, 

 however, quite as much to undertake detailed study of the 

 numerous scientific problems raised by the eruption as to 

 furnish its members with authentic accounts of one of the 

 greatest volcanic disturbances in history. Hand in hand with 

 exploration of interest to all of the 750,000 members of the 

 society, has always gone intensive study of numerous scientific 

 problems which would appeal to a more restricted audience. 

 The Board of Managers of the society has from the first recog- 

 nized that the expeditions would fail in their purpose if they 

 brought back nothing beyond material for articles suitable 

 for a magazine of general interest to all intelligent people. 

 These articles are, to be sure, as accurate and as truly con- 

 tributions to knowledge as the most recondite memoir. But 

 it is recognized that they must be brief epitomes in which 

 the detailed data essential to the progress of science must be 

 cut out on account of the limitations of space. 



♦Copyright, 1918, by National Geographic Society, Washington, D. C. All 

 rights reserved. 



