VARIATIONS OF GLACIERS. XX 1 



HARRY FIELDING REID 



Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 



The following is a summary of the Nineteenth Annual Report 

 of the International Committee on Glaciers. 2 ' 



THE REPORT OF GLACIERS FOR 1913 



Swiss Alps. — Sixty-one glaciers were measured in 1913; a 

 larger proportion were retreating this year than in 191 2. The 

 Rhone Glacier, however, has grown in thickness, throughout, with 

 an increase of velocity and an advance of the tongue. 



Eastern Alps. — The summer of 19 13, like its predecessor, was 

 very wet, especially on the north side of the Alps; the conditions 

 during both summers must have influenced the glaciers in 19 13. Of 

 the 37 glaciers observed 8 were advancing, 4 were stationary, and 

 only 25 continued their retreat. The increase in the number of 

 advancing glaciers is certain, and the retreat of the glaciers of the 

 Eastern Alps has diminished; it is doubtful if the retreat can now 

 be said to be the prevailing condition. 



Italian Alps. — In the Piedmont Alps the snowfall has been too 

 heavy to permit of good observations, but the glaciers are appar- 

 ently retreating. Careful photographic surveys have been made 

 of three of the large glaciers on the south side of the Mount Blanc 

 massif ; these glaciers are retreating ; but the snowfall in the higher 

 regions has increased, so much so in places as to. cause a marked 

 change in the appearance of the mountains. In the Monte Rosa 

 group the observed glaciers were retreating. In the Lombard 

 Alps some glaciers were making slight advances, some slight 

 retreats. On the whole, the large glaciers of the Italian Alps were 

 retreating, but a number of the smaller ones were slightly advancing 

 or were in a doubtful condition. 



1 Earlier reports appeared in the Journal of Geology, Vols. III-XXIII. 



2 Zeilschrifl fur Gletscherkunde, IX (1014), 42-65. 



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