I. 



The Study of Existing Glaciers. 



IN Natural Science for last November (vol. v., p. 335) allusion 

 was made to the formation, by the International Geological 

 Congress, of a committee that should study the changes now occurring 

 in glaciers, and organise research in this important subject all over 

 the world. The following article is written to give some further 

 details, to show the kind of work that is being done, and to enlist the 

 cooperation of fresh workers. 



Any consecutive series of records of glacial movements, from 

 different countries, cannot fail to throw much light on the subject of 

 ice-action in modern as well as in pre-historic times. And it is as well 

 to emphasise the canon that, since we know of not the slightest 

 variation in physical laws, the action now-a-days must be of the same 

 nature as when the scale was very much larger. It is, therefore, very 

 necessary that writers on the theory of such matters should gain a 

 personal familiarity with existing glaciers. Thereby they would be 

 saved from sundry enunciations, which are at times positive enough 

 in all conscience, but which bring a frequent smile to the sunburnt 

 face of the student of nature. And, be it remarked, this study does 

 not demand in its followers special knack or strength, or, in fact, that 

 they should be mountaineers, since climbs up stiff rocks and steep 

 snow-slopes bear but a small proportion to the easy excursions 

 ordinarily needed for the examination of glaciers. 



There is a branch of this investigation that has as yet been very 

 little worked at ; namely, the connection of meteorological conditions 

 with variations in the bulk of the ice-mass and with its advance 

 or retreat. By a careful collection and comparison of data, much 

 unlooked-for light might be thrown on these matters, and many 

 crude notions as to the influence of heat, wind and moisture, might 

 be brought to bit and bridle. To this study may be added that 

 of the modifications due to latitude and the influence that that 

 factor has upon continental and insular climate. It is easy to see the 

 immense importance of a concurrent epitome of local meteorology, 

 whether we consider the varying amount of snowfall, or the prevalent 

 winds and clouds, or the effect of variations of temperature upon the 

 melting of the ice or upon its evaporation direct from the solid state, 

 or the similar influence that these changes have upon the neve. It 

 would, indeed, hardly be going too far to say that these matters have 



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