The paper considers how to calculate the budget history of a glacier from the historical record of its advance and retreat. The linearized differential equations developed in previous papers are used to compute a series of coefficients g(n). The g(n) operate directly on a record of annually spaced observations of the position of the glacier terminus, to give the time variation of net budget. The g(n) are calculated for South Cascade Glacier, Washington, U.S.A. and for Storglaciären, Kebnekaise, Sweden, and are applied to the terminus records of these two glaciers. The results indicate that the figures for the retreat during individual years are not sufficiently reliable to deduce annual net budget changes with confidence. But the coarser features of the terminus records give net budget figures that agree well with the 9 yr. or 10 yr. means of recent observations. The theory extends the generalized budget record of Storglaciären back by several decades. and shows an increase in net budget in the 1930’s that is not immediately apparent in the terminus record.

The upper 180 ft. (55 m.) of Lake Vanda in Wright Valley, south Victoria Land, is essentially potable, whereas that part below 200 ft. (61 m.) is more than three times as saline as sea-water. The salinity below 200 ft. (61 in.) resulted from the evaporation and freezing, mainly during interglacial (Loop-Trilogy) time, of a larger, less saline body of water.

An alluvial fan in Wright Valley has been dated as interglacial on the basis of (1) ice-marginal channels formed in Loop time that cut across it, and (2) the fjord-like longitudinal cross-section of the valley formed by the ice of the oldest glaciation or glaciations.

Fossils found in till and glacio-fluvial deposits in the McMurdo Sound region, south Victoria Land, date from both early and late Pleistocene interglacial time.

An ocean-bottom core sample obtained in the Ross Sea contained interglacial material. The presence in the sample of glacial marine sediments deposited in interglacial time suggests that the Antarctic Ice Sheet maintained itself throughout the Pleistocene.

Sub-surface efflorescences consisting of a layer of pure salts as much as 3 in, (7.6 cm.) thick are found 2−5 in. (5−13 cm.) below the surface in Loop deposits in Wright Valley. The absence of similar thick occurrences in Trilogy deposits indicates that the efflorescences are, in part at least, interglacial.

Interglacial cinder cones and lava flows are found in the McMurdo Sound area, and some of the widespread scoria present in moraines, glacio-fluvial deposits and beaches dates from interglacial time.

Lemon Creek Glacier served as the focus of attention of the Juneau Ice Field Research Project from 1953 through 1958. During the International Geophysical Year, it represented one of the glaciological stations in the North American network. This paper presents some of the results of these studies, its purposes being (1) to discuss the 1953–58 annual hydrological budgets, and (2) to test Nielsen’s equations for the equilibrium glacier using 1957 and 1958 movement and hydrological data.

It is found that each budget year for the period studied shows a deficit, except 1954–55 which registered a pronounced surplus. The net deficit amounts to 10.32×106 m.3 of water. The 1956–57 budget was only slightly negative (0.82×106m.3) but that for 1957–58 was strongly negative (8.96×106 m.3). Surface flow measurements were made along five transverse profiles, two of which were plotted over one full year. It is believed that the one-year measurements provide a more accurate and realistic picture of glacier flow than is normally available from short summer surveys. Thu glacier appears to be close to equilibrium and to behave in the manner predicted by Nielsen’s theory of equilibrium flow.

The McMurdo Ice Shelf and associated faunal remains were examined in the vicinity of the easternmost Dailey Island. Stratigraphic, petrographic, and chemical composition studies of cores from two holes drilled through the ice shelf show that at these locations the shelf is composed only of fresh-water ice. Although cores from the deeper hole possessed typically glacial textures throughout, much of the ice from this part of the McMurdo Ice Shelf may have been formed from the freezing of a layer of fresh water found sandwiched between shelf bottom and the underlying sea-water. The existence of fresh water under the ice shelf can most probably be attributed to drainage of surface melt water during the ablation season. There was no evidence to indicate that this part of the McMurdo Ice Shelf is being nourished by the growth of sea ice onto its lower surface. The fish remains found on the ice surface were confined to a narrow zone along the tide crack and are believed to have been left in this vicinity by deep diving seals. The marine invertebrate remains on top of the ice are associated with morainal material and are believed to have been incorporated into the ice at the time of formation of the moraines.

Blue Glacier has an area of 4.3 km.2, a volume of 0.57 km.3, a mean density of 0.88 g. cm.−3 and an altitude range of 1,275 to 2,350 m. above sea-level. It is an active temperate glacier in a strongly maritime climate where the net budget gradient varies from 10 mm. m.−1 in the ablation zone to 7 or 8 mm. m.−1 in the accumulation zone. There is a very large snow accumulation each winter and a large snow melt each summer which exceeds by several times the ice melt. The annual mass budget is strongly influenced by altitudes of the freezing level during spring and autumn storms, for these determine whether the heavy precipitation falls as rain or snow. Recent glacier variations are quantitatively consistent with climate trends but there is no clear cause-and-effect relation. Since 1958 the glacier has been gaining mass by an average of 0.4 per cent per year.

Density-depth curves constructed from seismic travel-time data observed at 25 locations, show a large variation over an essentially isothermal area (T = −22±2.6° C). This is correlated with the wide range of mean annual accumulation values. (A = 20 to 50g./cm.2yr). Quantitative estimates of mean annual accumulation can be obtained from seismic refraction data in this area by the expression A = 23.5+0.049(3500−V200) where V200 is the compressional wave velocity (m./sec.) observed at 200 m. from the shot point. The density-depth curves can be used to give estimates of accumulation by the expression:

where ρ40 is the density (g./cm.3) at 40 m. depth. The internal consistency of these methods is indicated by the standard deviation of ±2.9./cm.2 yr. for comparisons of accumulation estimates. The theoretical basis for these results is discussed.

Lemon Creek Glacier served as the focus of attention of the Juneau Ice Field Research Project from 1953 through 1958, during which period glaciological and related research was accomplished. This paper provides an historical framework for those studies by (1) considering variations of Lemon Creek Glacier in recent centuries and during millennia since the last ice age, and (2) describing certain relationships which appear to exist between these variations and the climatic record.

It is found that Lemon Creek Glacier has been receding intermittently since a maximum c. 1750 and by 1958 had lost c. 25 per cent of the former area. Most rapid recession occurred during the periods 1891–1902 and 1929–58. Behaviour of the glacier since c. 1750 reveals a parallelism with glaciers in most of the regions where temperature trends have been graphed as well as with other glaciers of the Juneau Ice Field. The advances of the 1950’s observed in the Rocky, Cascade and Olympic Mountains do not, however, show up in the Juneau area. Lemon Creek Glacier has not advanced more than 375 m. beyond the 1750 position, if at all, during the last 10,000 yr.

The recent discovery (Gow and others, 1965) of a layer of fresh water under the McMurdo Ice Shelf invites a reconsideration of the early theory of its genesis. A general description of the area is given to record the wide area in which marine bottom deposits overlie freshwater ice.

The pattern of flow of moraine-carrying glaciers is studied by models whirled in a centrifuge. Because of the rather high centrifugal force (1,000 g), substances with high viscosity, such as bouncing putty and stitching wax (viscosity around 106–107 poises), can be used as glacier-imitation materials. As moraine-imitation material powdered hard wax is used. The strength and high viscosity of the model materials permit detailed structures to be studied without the disturbing effects of sagging after being run to the chosen stage in the centrifuge. Stroboscopic light makes it possible to follow the evolution of the flow and to stop the centrifuge and thus the flow at any stage.

Rather realistic-looking fold structures of the kind seen in some piedmont ice sheets develop readily after a few minutes’ run in the centrifuge.

The mechanism of fold evolution is discussed.

No slip (or shear) has taken place along a “foliation” which sometimes develops parallel to the axial planes of the folds.

Snow samples from the Amundsen-Scott South Pole station and “Byrd” station, Antarctica, and “Camp Century”, Greenland were tested for creep under low stresses for various periods of time up to two years. Creep was analyzed as a function of density. Comparisons of compressive viscosities plotted against densities for all three sites showed three distinct regions representing three different mechanisms of densification.

Direct measurements of the horizontal divergence of the air flow close to the snow surface have been made. The mean vertical wind component has been derived from these observations. The temperature profile has been analyzed near the center of the snow-dome and a method to determine the sensible heat flux independent from the energy budget has been developed.

Art examination of bullet crystals in precipitation at the South Pole indicates that combinations of bullets originate as primary growth structures and that individual bullets are formed as a result of the disintegration of these primary growth forms rather than by independent crystallization of pyramidally terminated columns.

East-west glacial striations and grooves were discovered on the summit ridge of Observation Hill, which parallel the present direction of shelf ice movement to the east and south-east of the Hut Point peninsula. This evidence suggests that Observation Hill may have been glaciated by a thickened McMurdo lobe of the adjacent Ross Ice Shelf, moving west, as it does today.

A commonly accepted distinction between snow-patches and glaciers is the slow mass movement of the latter with consequent abrasion of stones and rock surfaces. However, the observations of some workers do not support this distinction. The present study, in a snow-patch area on Mount Twynam in the Snowy Mountains (Australia), presents positive evidence of slow mass sliding of snow, causing transport, abrasion and detachment of stones and abrasion of the bedrock surface. Consequently, no sharp separation is possible between the erosional effects of snow-patches and small cirque glaciers. In areas such as the Snowy Mountains the relative importance of glacial and nivational processes becomes more difficult to evaluate.

Glow-curves of ice, made in the laboratory, have a distribution of peak-height ratios, with the maximum at approximately 0.75. The distribution was probably caused by varying conditions of crystallization, impossible to control with the present equipment. Glow-curves of ice which has been made to flow have a distribution of peak ratios with the maximum at approximately 1.75.

It is concluded that dislocations in the crystal lattice effect the peak ratio. Dislocations are produced during crystallization by internal stresses, and to a greater extent, by external forces during the flow.

The accumulation of snow in terrain depressions was studied in an alpine basin in central Colorado. Snow fences and a jet roof were built up-wind of several natural catchments to see if such barriers could be used in combination with terrain features to produce snow fields that would persist until late summer. At three of the six test sites, fences increased snow depths appreciably and the snow fields persisted longer than usual. At the other test sites snow depths were increased close behind the fences but were decreased farther down-wind with no net increase in the amount of snow caught.

Recent measurements of snow accumulation on undulating surfaces around “Byrd station”, Antarctica indicate that the undulations are tending to be filled in. These results are discussed in the light of current knowledge of the origin and migration of such features.

Gravity measurements at 146 stations on lower Blue Glacier were used to determine the subglacial bedrock configuration. The gravity values, station elevations and density contrast were carefully measured, and terrain corrections thoroughly evaluated to insure accuracy of the Bottguer anomalies. A series of successive approximations results in evaluation of the regional gravity field and a three-dimensional model of the glacier whose gravimetric effects fit the range of the observational and computational errors. Comparison with bore holes and seismic reflections indicates no significant errors in the model and accuracies of 5–10 per cent in the calculated thicknesses of the glacier.

A comparison of polar ice (several years old) with biennial ice (between one and two years old) was made in the field at lat. 79°N., long. 104° W. Vertical cores were extracted from the ice cover and sectioned. Their ultimate tensile strengths were measured by the ring-tensile method. Supporting measurements were made of the salinity, density, and crystal structure of the ice. Tensile strength values averaged 6 per cent higher for the polar ice and 21 per cent higher for the biennial ice than comparable results for annual sea ice. A few horizontal cores of biennial ice were analysed similarly with inconclusive results.