This glossary is mainly concerned with land ice and associated terms, and is therefore complementary to the glossary of predominantly sea ice terms published in the Polar Record, Vol. 8, No. 52, 1956, p. 4–12. It is hoped that the two, taken together and incorporating any necessary amendments, will form the basis of a Special Publication which the Institute hopes to issue when funds allow.

This list was first published in the second edition of the Antarctic Pilot (London, Hydrographie Department, 1948, p. 6–25). Since that time it has been possible to make a large number of important corrections and additions. A check-list of this kind has been found necessary for classifying original log books, published narratives and other documents connected with the expeditions. It is hoped that it will also prove of value to those engaged in Antarctic research who may wish to check which expeditions have visited any particular area.

Food intake on a polar expedition has always been a problem to those in charge of the commissariat. For years it has been accepted that man has a very high energy expenditure while sledging. Because of this it has always been the custom to provide a sledging diet which yields the greatest number of calories in the smallest weight.