THE VARIATIONS OF GLACIERS. XVI 1 



HARRY FIELDING REID 

 Johns Hopkins University 



The following is a summary of the Fifteenth Annual Report of 

 the International Committee on Glaciers. 2 



REPORT OF GLACIERS EOR 1909 



Swiss Alps. — Of the ninety glaciers measured in 1909, only two 

 have been advancing for three successive years, the Scex-rouge and 

 the lower Grindelwald Glacier; the latter has advanced 59 meters 

 in two years. Nine other glaciers have advanced slightly during 

 the last year but it is not certain that they are in a stage of advance. 

 A general retreat is dominant in the Swiss Alps. 3 



Eastern Alps. — Thirty-nine glaciers were measured, and the 

 retreat is general, although in many cases it is slow. The Lang- 

 taler Glacier and the Grosselendkees seem to be stationary, and 

 the Mitterkarferner has made a small advance. 4 



Italian Alps. — The retreat, which has been general for some 

 years, seems to be continuing without change. 5 



French Alps. — Observations on the snow-fall and the variation 

 in the length of glaciers have continued, and maps of some glaciers 

 are being made on a scale of 1 : 10,000. In the Mont Blanc range 

 the retreat is nearly general, though slight; the Glacier des Bossons 

 has advanced a little more than one meter. The ends of the 

 glaciers have in general diminished in thickness with a corre- 

 sponding diminution in the velocity of flow. In the Tarentaise and 

 Maurienne the retreat is also general, but feeble. In the Dauphine 

 we find that the snow-fall has been distinctly heavier since 1906 

 with the result that the glaciers on the northern side of the Pelvoux 

 massif have grown thicker and are beginning to advance; and the 



1 The earlier reports appeared in the Journal of Geology, Vols. III-XIX. 



2 Zeitschrift fur Gletscherkunde (191 1), V, 177-202. 



3 Report of Professor Forel and M. Muret. 



" Report of Professor Bruckner. s Report of Professor Marinelli. 



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