MEASURING AND MAPPING OF GLACIER VARIATIONS

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences
• Main Author: Kick, W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1966
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Norway; glacier
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/e66-060; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/e66-060

One of the main purposes of glacier mapping is to determine the temporary state of glaciers and to investigate glacier variations by successive mappings. The author illustrates this work with particular reference to terrestrial photogrammetric surveys of mountain glaciers in the Nanga Parbat region of the Himalaya and of the Tunsbergdalsbre in southwest Norway, in both cases 24 years after R. Finsterwalder's original surveys. The author shows that the most important index of variation is the height variation of the surface level in the region of the firn line. The accuracy necessary for measuring the height variation and the scale of map plotting are discussed. Field methods are also discussed, and information is given on the measurement of volumetric changes from contourline shifts and on the measurement of velocity profiles by terrestrial photogrammetry.