Jökull - 01.12.1953, Page 3

I HAVE been asked to contribute to this issue
of JOKULL. I will do it by the following lines.
Ever since Landnámstid (the time of colon-
ization 870—930) the glaciers have received
more attention and have been better understood
in Iceland than in any other country, not even
excluding the Alpine districts or Norway.
The reasons for this are many. ln the first
place the glaciers in lceland are so large and
they are so located that their influence on culti-
vated areas and settlements has been import-
ant. 1 need only to refer to Sigurdur Thorar-
insson’s papers on the oscillations of the sou-
thern outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull and their
influence on the settlements in Austur-Skafta-
fellssýsla. Secondly the Icelanders have a realistic
interest for nature phenomena which is greater
than that of most other peoples. Not even dur-
ing the Middle Ages was this interest darkened
by superstition and theology. This is evident
i. a. from Konungsskuggsjá (Speculum Regale),
JOKULL
ÁRSRIT
JÖKLÁRANNSÓKNAFÉLAGS ÍSLANDS
3. ÁR REYKJAVÍK 1953
the Norwegian manuscript from about the
middle of the I3th century; Thórdur Vídalín
(1662—1742) and Sveinn Pálsson (1762—1840)
were pioneers in the field of glaciology.
The interest in glaciers shown at present in
Iceland is admirable. Her own contributions
to sucli knowledge are important and well
knoxan. This periodical, JOKULL, is a proof of
this. While the rest of the world has trouble in
maintaining a journal solely on glaciology, Ice-
land has started her own publication. It shows
the ambition and capacity not only of the few
Icelandic scientists but also of the whole peop-
le in a way which has no paralell elsewhere.
I would like to mention especially Jón Ey-
thórsson, who has by self-sacrificing work main-
tained the measurements of Icelandic glaciers
and who is the initiator and editor of JOKULL.
Iceland is situated in a centre faction of the
general atmospheric circulation and lier glaciers
have an exceptionally rich and interesting for-
mation. It is of greatest importance that in-
vestigations will be maintained in Iceland whose
particular purpose is to clarify the connection
betiueen the glacial regime and climatic
fluctuations. Iceland has in this respect a key
position.
Therefore I express the hope that internati-
onal cooperation in the field of glaciology will
be able to support the Icelandic effort to make
use of her unique natural advantages.
Z'haVT G/LW
i