The net mass balance of four small cirque glaciers (0.7–1.4 km2) in the Torngat Mountains of northern Labrador was measured for 1981–84, allowing three complete mass-balance years to be calculated. The two largest glaciers experienced positive mass-balance conditions in 1982 while all the glaciers were negative in 1983. The temporal pattern relates directly to general climatic conditions, in particular winter snowfall. Spatial variations of mass balance on the glaciers are the result of several factors including altitude, extent of supraglacial debris cover, slope, proximity to side and backwalls of the enclosing cirque, and the height of the backwall above the ice surface. Abraham Glacier, the smallest studied and with consistently the largest negative mass balance (–1.28 m in 1983), re-advanced an average of 1.2 m each year between 1981 and 1984. Mean equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) for the four glaciers is 1050 m, varying substantially from one glacier to another (+240 to –140 m) and from year to year (+60 to –30 m).

Data of the heat balance measured during EGIG 1959 and 1967 are applied to calculate the shift in equilibrium line due to climatic changes. The analysis follows Kuhn’s algorithm by determining from the data: (i) response of the net radiation balance due to changes in air temperature, cloudiness, and albedo, (ii) the response of the sensible heat flux due to changes in air temperature, (iii) the altitudinal gradients of air temperature and cumulative accumulation, (iv) the duration of the ablation season, and (v) the significance of superimposed ice. The shift of the equilibrium line due to changes in cloudiness is negligible compared to that which is caused by changes in temperature. The formation of superimposed ice, however, influences the result considerably. The shift of the equilibrium line amounts to +77 m K−1 at constant cloudiness and –4 m per 1/10 cloudiness at constant temperature.

Measurements were made of the kinetic friction which occurs when a tungsten carbide ball slides in various directions on the surface of a single crystal of ice, the track width produced on the surface was also measured. Anisotropies were detected in both the friction coefficient and the track width. The track width φ was at a maximum when the ball was slid normal to the basal plane and a minimum when it was moving parallel to (0001) in the temperature range —5 to —30°C. Although the friction coefficient was at a minimum when slid normal to (0001) and maximum in parallel to (0001) at temperatures of —19°C and below, this relation was found to be reversed at temperatures of —10°C and above. Anisotropy in track width can be explained in terms of the amount by which a slip system contributes to deformation in a specimen. However, our understanding of frictional anisotropy calls for knowledge of the ploughing strength p defined by the adhesion theory of friction. It was found that p reached a maximum in parallel to (0001) and a minimum normal to (0001) and that the frictional anisotropy on (0001) was influenced by the value . A remarkable frictional anisotropy was also observed on the surface inclined to the basal plane at 30°; the maximum friction coefficient was twice the minimum, whereas the maximum track width was only 1.3 times the minimum.

A linear elastic finite element computer program was applied to determine the stress distributions in multi-layered snow-packs typical of those found at Berthoud Pass, Colorado. The effect on stress distribution of wide variations in elastic material properties was examined. Also, an attempt was made to model the shear failure of a weak sub-layer in the snow-pack by relaxing the condition that the bottom snow layer be firmly attached to the ground.

Methanesulfonate was investigated as a potential contributor to the sulfur budget, based on analysis of a firn core from Collins Ice Cap, King George Island, Antarctica (62°10′ S, 58°50′ W). The anion was found to be present at a mean concentration of 0.17 μeq L−1, with a maximum of 0.73 μeq L−1. Dating based on the δ18O profile suggests that the principal peaks of methanesulfonate are associated with snow deposited in summer and autumn. A careful examination of MSA, SO42− and nssSO42− profiles indicates that two of the three peaks in the MSA profile may result mainly from migration and relocation of MSA. The mechanism responsible for this might be similar to that for deep cores from other Antarctic glaciers, supporting the migration hypothesis proposed by prior researchers and extending it to near-temperate ice. Due to the post-depositional modification, the main part of the MSA profile of the firn is no longer indicative of the seasonal pattern of MSA in the atmosphere, and the basis for calculation of the MSA/nssSO42− ratio should be changed. The MSA/nssS042 ratio obtained by a new computation is 0.22, 10% higher than that ignoring the effect of MSA migration.

Semantic segmentation is a critical part of observation-driven research in glaciology. Using remote sensing to quantify how features change (e.g. glacier termini, supraglacial lakes, icebergs, crevasses) is particularly important in polar regions, where glaciological features may be spatially small but reflect important shifts in boundary conditions. In this study, we assess the utility of the Segment Anything Model (SAM), released by Meta AI Research, for cryosphere research. SAM is a foundational AI model that generates segmentation masks without additional training data. This is highly beneficial in polar science because pre-existing training data rarely exist. Widely-used conventional deep learning models such as UNet require tens of thousands of training labels to perform effectively. We show that the Segment Anything Model performs well for different features (icebergs, glacier termini, supra-glacial lakes, crevasses), in different environmental settings (open water, mélange, and sea ice), with different sensors (Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, Planet, timelapse photographs) and different spatial resolutions. Due to the performance, versatility, and cross-platform adaptability of SAM, we conclude that it is a powerful and robust model for cryosphere research.

Small glaciers lying in funnel-shaped hollows on steep slopes have been variously described as wall-sided glaciers, cascade glaciers, cliff glaciers and niche glaciers. This type of glacier and the landforms associated with them in Bünsow Land, central Vestspitsbergen are described and their possible mode of origin is discussed. The theory that they were formed by an overspill of plateau ice and that they are thereby genetically related to hanging glaciers is rejected. It is suggested that they are formed by an accumulation of snow in an initially water-worn gully and that as the small glacier develops the original form of the gully is modified by nivation to a rounded, funnel-shaped hollow. Niche glaciers may thus be considered as glacier types genetically related to cirque glaciers, forming an early stage in corrie development.

Snow crystals were received on the collodion film of the holder of an electron microscope, and made to sublimate without melting. These specimens were investigated under an electron microscope. One solid nucleus was always observed in the central portion of a snow crystal. These centre nuclei were of sizes between 0.5 and 8μ. Most of them were presumed to be kaolin, clay or carbon particles; some were considered to be micro-organisms. In the other parts of snow crystals numerous smaller nuclei were observed, whose dimensions were of the order of those of condensation nuclei. These condensation nuclei were found to be of two kinds, the larger ones most frequently having a diameter of about 0.15μ, the smaller ones of about 0.05μ. A new theory was proposed from the data of the electron microscopic studies and those of the conditions of formation of snow crystals. In this theory it is proposed that minute water droplets of 1μ or so play an important rôls in the process of snow crystal growth.

Most astronomical hypotheses on the causes of ice ages are dynamically untenable. Alterations in the amount of solar radiation, however, have long been recognized as a possible cause, but only with recent progress in the theory of stellar evolution has it become clear that such changes must occur. At irregular intervals the sun will pass, and will have passed, with low relative speeds through interstellar hydrogen clouds, and the gravitational action of the sun leads to an increase in the quantity of material falling to the surface with high velocity. The conversion of the kinetic energy of fall of this material results in an increase of emission at the solar surface. Increases of order up to about 10 per cent of the present total radiation could occur, and the process is such that the extra energy would be located mainly in the shorter wavelengths.

Data from stake measurements, marker boards and pits along a 136 km trail crossing the Thule peninsula sector of the Greenland ice sheet have been used to determine both the regional and local distribution of snow accumulation, On a regional scale trend surfaces of mean annual accumulation can be adequately predicted from a model using distance from moisture source and elevation as independent parameters. A series of step- or wave-like features break the smooth profile of the ice. sheet and cause profound changes in accumulation rates on a local scale. The accumulation pattern over these features can be predicted from surface slope and departure from regional elevation. Profiles of’ surface and subsurface topography indicate a direct relationship between subsurface hills and step-like features, but cannot be quantitatively accounted for by existing ice-flow theory. Detailed accumulation studies in conjunction with a program of spirit leveling in the vicinity of Camp Century has revealed the development a shallow valley-like feature. Within this feature accumulation rates have increased indicating that it is the result of flow phenomena.

The trapping of bubbles of air in polar ice has provided a unique record of past atmospheric composition. However, the interpretation of measured concentrations depends on the statistics of the trapping process. Measurements of trace atmospheric constituents whose concentrations are changing steadily can be interpreted in terms of an “effective age” of the gas which differs from the age of the ice by a delay which corresponds to the mean trapping time. The statistics of bubble trapping can be modelled as a percolation model which is one of a class of models whose transitions are characterized by large critical fluctuations. These critical fluctuations cause an intrinsic sample-to-sample variability in the delay time and thus in the effective age. Monte Carlo simulations using a lattice model of the firn are presented, showing the effect of finite sample size on the age distribution of trapped gas. For samples containing more than about 103–104 bubbles, the simulations indicate that the range of variability is small compared to the average duration of the trapping process.

The propagation of plastic shock waves in snow is analyzed in order to evaluate the effect of wave intensity and frequency content on attenuation. The results show that frequency content is not very significant and that large amplitude pressure waves lose their effectiveness very quickly. These results seem to support the present-day contention that air-induced explosions are a more effective means of controlling avalanches than explosives placed in the snow-pack and that explosive speed is not a particularly important factor in determining explosive effectiveness.

Surface deformations in the neighborhood of a crevasse field were measured over short (3 m) gage lengths in order to study flow conditions associated with crevasse formation. The results obtained were unusual in that they were inconsistent with large-scale results found by previous workers. It was concluded that the presence of small-scale surface effects, such as fractures, pot-holes and healed crevasses give rise to small-scale deformation fields with large spatial and temporal variations and that there is a lower limit of gage length below which deformation measurements pertinent to regional (low phenomena cannot be made. This lower limit is apparently an order of magnitude greater than the spacing of the features which give rise to localized effects.

Measurements of the annual snow accumulation have been made at many points on a traverse of north Greenland. In lat. 77–78° N. the annual accumulation above 1800 m. was about 13 gm. cm.−2 in the years 1948–53 and, in contrast to results which have been obtained further south, did not vary with longitude. In 1953–54 the accumulation was greater. The annual accumulation in north and central Greenland has varied significantly over the last 50 years, but similar variations are not shown in the precipitation records at coastal stations. Using all the available information, the mean annual accumulation on the Greenland Ice Sheet has been calculated as 29±3 gm. cm.−2.

Electrical conductivity profiling allows definition of the hydrology of glacier boreholes occupied by contrasting water types. An inexpensive, robust conductivity profiling system is described that allows detailed description of borehole hydrostratigraphy with reasonable reproducibility. Field dato demonstrate the need to distinguish between bottom water in boreholes and basal water in drainage systems at the glacier bed.

The direction of inland ice movement can, in some cases, be reconstructed by a study of the forms at the base of till strata. These forms are “ribs”, which are formed either as slickensides or as a type of negative “flute”; “edges” and “wedges”, which are caused by shearing movements at the base of the ice; or “undulations”, probably created by restricting movements at the base of the ice. These forms appear to be elongated in the direction of ice movement. As these features can easily be measured, they can be used to check, supplement, or replace the results of till-fabric measurements.

The discharge pattern of the “Schei River”, which drains a 91.2 km2 partly glacierized catchment on Ellesmere Island, is dominated by diurnal oscillations reflecting variations in the melt rate of snow and ice in the basin. Superimposed on this diurnal pattern are numerous short–lived discharge fluctuations of irregular periodicity and magnitude. The characteristics of such irregular fluctuations are described and attributed to periodic collapse of the glacier margin and concomitant damming of the main tributary of the “Schei River”. Collapse is initiated by the river undercutting the ice margin, and tends to be most frequent in the latter part of the flow season during periods of high discharge. Release of ponded water following the collapse of such ice dams may engender significant flood events.