Glaciological Observations around Mount Atter, West Greenland

Abstract

ABSTRACT. In an uncompleted paper, the glaciological observations made by the late Michael Holland and his party in the mountainous Sukkertoppen region of West Greenland (lat. 66°N.) during the summer of 1956 are described. Notes on the features of this region and of the present state of the glaciers were fairly complete; it is felt that these should be put on record as likely to be of use to future workers. It is concluded that in recent years retreat of the main glaciers appears to have been very slight. Pit measurements were made and tabulated and comparisons were made with the earlier findings by Etienne in the same area. No notable difference in the annual accumulation is yet apparent; it is tentatively concluded that there may have been a small increase, but caution is needed in interpretation as the nearest meteorological stations lie at some distance. RESUME. Nous presentons ici Ie rapport incomplet des observations glaciologiques du groupe de feu Michael Holland effectuees dans Ie massif de Sukkertoppen-Groenland de l'ouest (66 0 N) pendant l'ete 1956. Les notes concernant les caracteristiques de cette region et Ie present etat de ses glaciers sont a peu pres completes; il semble que l'on peut les considerer comme donnees de base pour les recherches futures. II en decoule que Ie retrait des principaux glaciers pendant les dernieres annees est tres faible. Des mesures de profils ont ete effectuees, depouillees, et comparees, avec les observations faites par Etienne dans la meme region. L'accumulation annuelle ne presente pas de difference sensible quoiqu'il semble qu'elle ait legerement augmente. Cette conclusion doit etre acceptee avec une certaine reserve, comme la station meteorologique la plus proche se trouve a une distance notable de la zone de travail.ZUSAMMENFASSUNG. In einem unvollendeten Artikel werden die gletscherkundlichen Beobachtungen beschrieben, we1che der verstorbene Michael Holland und seine Expedition in den Bergen Sukkertoppens im Sommer 1956 gemacht hat. Die AusfUhrungen tiber die Verhaltnisse in jenem Gebiet und den gegenwartigen Stand der Gletscher sind ziemlich vollstiindig; man hatte den Eindruck, dass solche AusfUhrungen ftir spater sic1Ier ntitzlich sind. Es wird der Schluss gezogen, dass der Rtickzug der Hauptgletschcr in den letzten Jahren offenbar sehr gering war. Messungen in BohrUichern wurden durchgefUhrt. Vergleiche mit den frtiheren Ergebnissen von Etienne aus derselben Gegend ergaben, dass bisher noch kein merklicher Unterschied in der Akkumulation auftritt. Es wird versuchsweise der Schluss gezogen, dass ein leichtes Anwachsen eingetreten ist, aber bei der Interpretation ist Vorsicht n6tig, da die nachsten Stationen ziemlich entfernt liegen.INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY G. MANLEY AND K. S. SANDFORD Michael Holland's untimely death, together with Carsten Velsboe, in a phenomenal July storm on the upland ice of north-west Greenland, was reported early in August 1957. He was then in charge of a section of the Danish I.G.Y. party carrying out glaciological investigations organize...

Glaciological Reconnaissance of the Sukkertoppen Ice Cap, South-West Greenland

“…from the outer coast of Greenland, the mean annual accumulation for the period 1948–56 was 34.3 g. cm. 2 (Holland, 1961), and for the period 1930–38 it was 33.9 g. cm. 2 (Etienne, 1940).…”

“…The firn line inland from the outlet glacier “A” is at about 1,400 m. compared with 950 m. near Mount Atter (Holland, 1961) and about 750 m. on small glaciers nearer the coast.…”

“…Glaciological investigations in parts of the peripheral areas have been carried out by four Oxford University and one Cambridge University expeditions (Hayward, 1936; Mott, 1937; Sugden and Mott, 1940; Etienne, 1940; Cambridge West Greenland Glaciological Expedition, 1958, unpublished; Henry, 1959; Holland, 1961). Some journeys have been made onto the higher areas of the ice cap, but only observations of a very general nature have been recorded.…”

Hydrological basins in West Greenland

“…As mentioned earlier, fundamental data on ablation and ealf ice production are scarce. There are seattered data for loeal glaeiers from Bull (1963), Fristrup (1961), Holland (1961), Loewe (1934) and Rundle (1965), but none of these cover a whole budget year. As a remedy to this the Geological Survey of Greenland (GGu) has initiated measurements on two outlet glaciers ofthe Inland lee: in Johan Dahl Land (JHB,G.05.0) since 1977 and on Qamanarssup serrnia (GHB,H,21.0) since 1979.…”