The term “glacierisation” (spelt thus) was devised by Wright and Priestley to indicate “the inundation of land by ice” in order to make a distinction from “glaciation,” which they defined as “the erosive action of Land-Ice upon the land over which it flows.”Reference Wright and Priestley 1
We have endeavoured in this Journal to perpetuate the use of this terminology since it was found extremely useful, in fact essential for glaciologists, to have hard and fast terms to distinguish between land at present under ice and land formerly under ice. 2
Professor R. F. Flint has given it as his opinionReference Flint 3 that the term “glacierization seems unnecessary” and has proposed “glacier-covered” as a “clearer and simpler term.”
We must admit that the word “glacierization” is cacophonous, although it seems to describe with clarity what was intended ; but we must also admit that it has not caught on as had been hoped. However the Functional Glossary of Ice Terminology 4 published by the U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office has endorsed it, describing “glaciated” as land “having been subjected to the action of glaciers” and “glacierized” as “glacier-covered.”
In any case, it must be stated emphatically that the word “glaciated” has a definite and limited meaning which cannot be applied to what is essentially ice-cover as well as to what is essentially the condition of the land surface which may ultimately emerge from under hundreds or thousands of metres of ice. If this statement is accepted it will also mean that the terms “increase of glaciation” and “deglaciation” cannot be used in the sense of the advance and retreat of ice-cover.
The purpose of this note, then, is twofold: first, firmly to condemn the use of “glaciation” for ice-cover, and second, to obtain opinions as to what term shall be brought into use for this if “glacierization” is to be rejected. In that event, “ice-covered” or “glacier-covered” seem suitable and the latter might perhaps be confined to land mainly covered by valley glaciers, but the broader “ice-covered” and “ice-cover” should perhaps be sufficient for all purposes.
We should be glad to hear the opinions of glaciologists and geologists. We suggest that “glacierization” should not be discarded unless there is a very strong body of opinion in favour of doing so, and we therefore hope that all who are interested in an accurate and suitable terminology will briefly notify us of their views.
