A study intended to be mainly of practical use in the prediction of ice-avalanche hazards was carried out. About 100 ice avalanches, mostly from the Alps, were documented. Starting zones of these ice avalanches could be classified by using simple terrain characteristics. Ice avalanches from some starting zones at relatively low altitudes and with large, homogeneously inclined bedrock planes occur predominantly in summer and autumn. No such seasonal variation in frequency was found in connection with other types of starting zones occurring either at higher altitudes or involving abrupt changes of the bedrock’s gradient. One- and two-parameter models for the estimation of run-out distances of landslides and snow avalanches were tested for their use with ice avalanches. Introduction of the second (v2 proportional) frictional parameter leads only to moderately improved accuracy in the prediction of run-out distances. For relatively short run-out distances (several hundred meters), an alternative method of estimation, based on terrain characteristics, is proposed.

Earlier work by Nye (1965), who obtained numerical solutions for axial independent flow of a non-linear Glen material in channels of rectangular, elliptic, and parabolic cross-sections with a null-slip basal condition, is extended by using an inverse technique. Exact analytical solutions are obtained for flow in irregular-shaped channels (subject to symmetry restrictions) for both a Newtonian and an n = 3 Glen material. The cross-sections are regulated by multi-parameters. Solutions are obtained for two types of channel: (a) those whose side walls meet the free ice surface vertically, and (b) periodic channel arrays whose basal profiles do not intersect the free ice surface, i.e. overfilled channels. Solutions for the second type have not been presented previously. The solutions for the n = 3 Glen material employ a small parameter which limits the geometry variation to perturbations on semicircular or uniform-depth channels. Basal slip conditions can be incorporated although results are not presented here.

Widespread wet-snow avalanches were observed on the southern boundary of Glacier National Park, Montana, in February 1979. Severe tilting, scarring, and breakage of trees were observed along a transverse trim-line of one path, 70 m from a wet-snow deposit. Tree-ring data were used to establish the date of occurrence, and the nature of damage was used to characterize the avalanche event. The event probably included a previously unrecognized dry-snow avalanche and associated wind blast. Such events present different problems for natural-hazard planning. The nature of vegetative damage along the margins of avalanche paths is shown to be a useful indicator of the characteristics of past unobserved avalanche events.

A comprehensive set of ice-velocity and thickness data from traverses within the IAGP study area (bounded by long. 90°E. and 135°E., and north of lat. 80°S.) is compared with steady-state mass-flux calculations based on Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) map compilations.

The results of previous regional mass-budget estimates are reviewed and followed by a description of the new field measurements and the basis upon which a computer “grid–point” program is used to calculate balance fluxes.

A comparison of measured and balance fluxes indicates that the ice sheet in this region of East Antarctica is unlikely to be significantly out of balance.

The ratio of average column to surface velocity is discussed and calculated to be 0.89.

An analysis of the mean shear strain-rate (VS/Z), versus down-slope basal shear stress (τb = ρgᾱZ), suggests that power flow-law parameters of n = 3.21 and k = 0.023 bar−n m−1 are appropriate for the effective basal shear zone in this region of the Antarctic ice sheet.

Studies on cresceatic fractures and crescentic gouges were carried out in the central part of the Alpine piedmont glaciation and the Quaternary Alpine mountain ice sheet. The test sites were situated in the pro-glacial area of the Hornkees south Berliner Hütte (Oberer Zemmgrund, Zillertal, Tyrol, Austria). This is also the area of the former confluence with another glacier which flowed at about 90° to Hornkees during the late-glacial period. It was therefore possible to make a comparison between different older glacier systems, different flow directions, and different ice thicknesses. About 12 000 minor features were measured by close-range photogrammetry; the result was 240 pairs of stereophotographs which were interpreted on first-order equipment. The single forms were registered point by point by coordinates. It was therefore possible to obtain three-dimensionally registered forms. One important result was that the late-glacial and the post-glacial glaciers of the Zemmgrund produced minor features with a large variation in size. A further result was the definition of possible glacier-flow directions by interpretation of the different directions of crescentic fractures and crescentic gouges. By this means it was possible to obtain several working reconstructions of the late- and post-glacial stream lines of the merged glaciers.

The appearance of a diurnal hysteresis in snow albedo is a widely reported phenomenon. This note discusses the relative importance of two separate effects: surface morphosis and surface irregularities (sastrugi). It is concluded that surface morphosis is the more important effect of the two in the region of the marginal cryosphere. Surface irregularities probably are the dominant influence only on permanent cryospheric areas such as the Greenland and Antarctic plateaux.

The two-dimensional, time-dependent flow of an arbitrarily shaped ice mass can be successfully modeled with the finite-element technique on a small computer. Methods developed for automatically generating the mesh data greatly simplify the data preparation and optimize the numerical simulations. Using quadratic basis functions permits the flow to be approximated quite adequately by only two element rows (five nodes vertically). Mixed-order basis functions, however, must be used so that numerical oscillations do not set in, and the ends of the ice mass, where the thickness tends to zero, must be treated carefully. Time simulations to a steady-state condition are necessary to test such numerical models adequately.

South Cascade Glacier, Washington, is currently close to equilibrium. A bedrock sill dominates the bed topography in the lower half of the glacier, rising to a height of about 20% of the ice thickness. This sill produces a maximum increase in the overall thickness of about 6–7% compared to what the thickness would have been if the sill were not present. Finally, this glacier does not appear to be sliding much, if at all, despite its maritime alpine environment. This could help explain the difficulties encountered when trying to measure sliding and basal water pressures on the same glacier (Hodge, 1979), or it could imply that drag exerted by the valley walls has a significantly greater effect than conventional shape-factor concepts imply.

At the beginning of spring snowmelt in an upland stream in Scotland a three-fold increase in total dissolved load occurs. This is shown to be the most significant of the acute events occurring during the year.

A simple mathematical expression for the density distribution of dry snow is described in this note. It compares very well with observations.

During the summer of 1983 a 2 kW array of solar voltaic panels was used to power a drill which collected two cores of 154 m and 163 m length to bedrock on the Quelccaya ice cap in Peru. The operation and performance of this array are discussed, considering the need for future requirements in remote pristine areas of the world.

This short note describes the equipment and procedures we have developed to mount end caps on ice-core specimens. The system typically achieves end-plane parallelism within 0.5 μm/mm of specimen diameter (i.e. a total indicator run-out of 0.002 in for a 4.0 in diameter specimen). The essential elements of the system are a holder and an alignment fixture. The holder firmly grips the ice core about its circumference by the compression of two series of O–rings. The alignment fixture clamps the holder to align the ice core precisely with the end caps. To bond the ice to the end cap we form a layer of 0°C water on the end cap; the water freezes immediately upon contact with the ice and forms a strong intimate bond. To date, we have used this system to install phenolic end caps on 101.6 mm diameter cores and aluminum end caps on 76.2 mm diameter cores of saline ice. We obtained a somewhat better tolerance with the aluminum caps (0.33 μm/mm of end-cap diameter), due primarily to the geometric stability of that material under the prevailing conditions. These specimens have been successfully tested in uniaxial and triaxial compression, and we expect that with appropriate end caps the system will be suitable for preparing tension specimens as well.

Several characteristics and interpretative comments are reported for microparticles from selected samples in the Sentik Glacier core. Four basic morphologic groups are defined: platy, angular, biogenic, and anomalous.

The mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet at Dye 3 is estimated on the basis of observations of ice thickness, accumulation rate, surface velocities, and surface strain-rates. The calculations indicate a rate of increase of surface elevation of 3 cm/year, with 95% confidence limits of −3 cm/year and +9 cm/year. Previous estimates of the mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet by the same method reported large imbalances; these are most probably due to lack of precise data and the use of quantities measured at the surface as representative of depth-averaged quantities. The most reliable observations indicate that the interior regions of the Greenland ice sheet are at present thickening at a rate of a few centimetres per year; a contributing cause for this may be the slow thinning of a bottom layer of relatively soft Wisconsin ice.

On 19 and 20 August 1984, an ice-marginal lake drained through a subglacial tunnel beneath the ede of the Greenland ice sheet, discharging about 22.3 × 106 m3 of water in less than 19 h. The event, which may occur annually, modified ice-margin dynamics at the lake site and along a 3 km stretch of ice margin 11 km down-stream.

A Bailey bridge built on a permanent ice body at an altitude of 5580 m above mean sea-level has been carrying regular traffic of 7 tonne motor vehicles for over 2 years. The problems posed by the ice body, its behaviour under the load of the bridge and traffic, its summer and winter behaviour, and the problems posed in the construction and maintenance of the bridge are studied and discussed.

A model is proposed for determining the relative proportions of 16O and 18O in large ice sheets. Values calculated using this model are in agreement with published values for Antarctica and Greenland. It is intended to use the model for comparisons between the known ocean isotopie records and postulated ice-sheet masses during the last ice age.