GLACIAL STUDIES IN GREENLAND. 7&9 



more southerly and the more northerly glaciers of Greenland 

 may therefore give us a clue to what may have been the effects 

 of double that range in former times. 



The southern extremity of Greenland is, however, affected 

 by the presence of the polar current of East Greenland and its 

 heavy ice pack, which wraps about Cape Farewell and flows up 

 the west coast several degrees, as already described. On this 

 account a comparison between the more genial tracts immedi- 

 ately north of this and those of higher latitudes may be as rep- 

 resentative as one drawn between the extreme portions. At 

 any rate, this is the only comparison I can make, as my obser- 

 vations south of Disco Island were extremely limited. So far, 

 however, as their very slight value goes, it appears that the 

 Disco Island glaciers are of the same type as the glaciers of 

 like dimensions in the more southerly region. In the following 

 descriptions an endeavor will be made to call attention to all 

 those peculiarities which seem to be serviceable in distinguish- 

 ing the special effects of latitude. Among these special effects 

 it is not meant, of course, to include those general influences of 

 low temperature simply as such, to which the glaciation is due, 

 but rather those which are inherent in the latitude as an astro- 

 nomical relationship ; such effects, for example, as may be 

 attributed to the low angle of incidence of the sun's rays, or to 

 its constancy above the horizon, or to similar phenomena 

 involving peculiar effects aside from low temperature. 



Politically speaking, Disco Island belongs to "Northern 

 Greenland." Godhaven, the capital of the " northern inspecto- 

 rate," is located on its southern border. In reality, however, 

 Disco lies south of the middle latitude of Greenland. It ranges 

 in latitude between 69 15' and J0° 20 ' and in longitude 

 between 51 70' and 54 80'. The glaciers we are to study 

 lie just north of Lat. 69 15' N. They are therefore but little 

 within the Arctic circle. They are eight and one-half degrees 

 south of those which we shall study a little later on Inglefield 

 Gulf. 



Disco is the largest of the known islands associated with 



