126 Alaskan Science Conference 



cant papers of interest to glaciologists as well as to plant ecolo- 

 gists and climatologists. 



Other important contributions were made by Stephen R. 

 Capps (7-9), of the Geological Survey, whose papers on Pleisto- 

 cene glaciation and existing glaciers in various parts of Alaska 

 are outstanding. From 1937 to 1940, Bradford Washburn (56- 

 58) took a series of magnificent aerial photographs of Alaskan 

 glaciers which constitute a unique record of the positions of 

 their termini and other features of glaciological interest. The 

 U. S. Navy, in 1929 and again in 1948, carried out special mis- 

 sions to photograph the glaciers of Southeastern Alaska. This 

 aerial record, made especially for glaciological purposes, to- 

 gether with the trimetrogon and vertical photography under- 

 taken by the Air Force and Navy for mapping purposes, 

 constitutes an impressive source of information for which stu- 

 dents of Alaskan glaciers will long be grateful. 



Mention should also be made of the valuable data on glaciers 

 and glaciation obtained by Geological Survey parties which 

 have been concerned primarily with the study of other aspects 

 of geology or have been engaged in topographic surveying; the 

 largely unsung work of Canadian and American surveying 

 parties (25) who delimited the international boundary and 

 mapped surrounding areas from 1893 to 1 9 12 > th e U. S. Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey parties who have been charting the coast 

 of Alaska and recording the position of many of the glacier 

 termini which descend to tidewater; and the U.S. Forest Service 

 which has sponsored observations of the glaciers situated within 

 the national forests. 



During the last seven decades, many travellers, ranging from 

 casual visitors to field parties specifically organized for the pur- 

 pose, have obtained data on the variations in size of the glaciers. 

 The information obtained by them has contributed significantly 

 to our understanding of the general trends of glacier variation 

 and the resulting changes in the topography and growth of 

 vegetation. Although much of this information has originated 

 from non-scientific sources, it is nevertheless of definite value 

 in the interpretation of glacial phenomena. 



