SNOW OF INLAND ICE 61 



ing our farthest point north-west, is proved, apart from the levels, which in themselves 

 are slender evidence, by the remarkable and complete change in the direction of the 

 prevalent winds. As indicated by the trend of the sastrugi they blow to the east 

 of the summit towards Ross Sea, to the west of the summit towards Addlie Land.* 



Structure of Inland Snoiv. It is much to be regretted that, owing to lack of 

 time and food, we were unable to sink a shaft, much as we wished to do so, in the 

 inland snow-fields to discover their structure. The importance of this has been 

 impressed by us upon the Australasian and British Expeditions in Antarctica in 

 1911-14. Sastrugi, 3 feet deep, failed to reveal anything more than tough snow. 

 No distinct trace of granulation was noticed ; in fact, no true neve seemed to form 



M*Mackinto»ri M'BaiUr M* Hansen 



sasa'f 8000 P 



Fig. 16 



in this surface portion, on account, doubtless, of the extreme cold and dryness of the 

 plateau. The granulation process may be said to be at a minimum on the high 

 plateau. 



The whole length of the Reeves and Larsen outlet glaciers with their snow-fields 



SUMMARY AND PAST HISTORY 



h of the Reeves and Larsen outlet glaciers -' 

 and piedmonts is approximately 200 miles, made up as follows : — 



Miles. 

 Snow-field and underlying ice . . . . .155 



Outlet glacier ........ 25 



Piedmont ........ 20 



In the case of the Lar.sen Glacier its piedmont merges in that of the Drygalski 

 Glacier, and so has the length of 38 miles, as compai-ed with 20 in the case of the 

 Nansen Piedmont. In the case of the David Glacier, only the length of its pied- 

 mont, the Drygalski Ice Barrier, is known, and that is 38 miles. 



* This fall of the plateau to the north-west is now quite confirmed by the i-ecent observations of 

 R. Bage, S. Webb, and 0. F. Hurley of Dr. Mawson's Australasian Expedition. They found the 

 plateau rose steadily from Adelie Land to 5900 feet, their farthest point reached, in lat. 70° 36' S., 

 long. 148° 12' E. 



I 



