PREFACE 



This publication is an extension of H. 0. Study No. 103, "A Functional 

 Glossary of Ice Terminology," which was compiled hastily for use by 

 various parties operating in the arctic during the summer of 1948. 

 Originally the glossary was confined chiefly to arctic sea ice, but addi- 

 tional land ice definitions are now considered desirable. The latter follow 

 very closely a classification established by Wright and Priestley. Also, equal 

 emphasis has now been placed on antarctic terms for the sake of compari- 

 son, usefulness, and completeness. As a result of field testing of H. 0. 

 Study No. 103, the glossary has been revised, enlarged, illustrated, and 

 printed in its present form. 



The purpose of the present glossary is threefold: (1) To standardize 

 ice terminology and its usage, (2) to provide a convenient means by which 

 ice may be classified and described, and (3) to develop a better under- 

 standing of ice properties in general. To help in achieving these ends, a key 

 for classifying ice features has been inserted before the alphabetical listing 

 of ice terms and their definitions. This publication has been designed to be 

 used either as a reference for definitions of ice terms or for study of ice 

 features. 



In compiling this glossary the major sources of English terminology 

 have been consulted and foreign words have been held to a minimum. 

 Foreign words have not been used where an English equivalent term in 

 general use exists. In case English (or British) usage differs from the 

 American-Canadian, the latter has been preferred. An attempt has been 

 made to eliminate ambiguous terms and to restrict meanings to the best 

 accepted usage. 



Emphasis has been placed on ice terms as such, and most of those dealing 

 with deposilional features, such as continental glaciation, have been omitted. 

 However, a few features closely associated with ice, which may be observed 

 from aircraft or shipboard, have been included. Only a few terms have 

 been included in this glossary pertaining to permafrost, which has its own 

 extensive and growing terminology. 



Snow and snow surfaces, while of major importance to the skier, moun- 

 taineer, polar explorer, and flier, are outside the scope of this glossary. 

 These subjects have been treated comprehensively and 'illustrated well by 

 G. Seligman in his "Snow Structure and Ski Fields." 



In the preparation of this glossary, previous discussions of the subject 

 have been freely drawn upon, the principal sources being listed in the 

 bibliography. There have also been included data derived from observa- 

 tions in the polar region? by personnel of this office and their associates. 

 An effort has been made to incorporate the latest results of polar research 

 and exploration, as evidenced by the dates of the items in the bibliography, 



