Jökull - 01.12.1974, Qupperneq 64

North Iceland Glacier Inventory - 1973
In 1972 the Young Explores’ Trust (Samband
ungra könnuða) evolved a North Iceland Gla-
cier Inventory Scheme in the belief that the
activities of some visiting expeditions could
usefully be directed towards a long-term project
that might in due course yield useful informa-
tion. In consultation with Sigurjón Rist (Orku-
stofnun) and Helgi Björnsson (Raunvísinda-
stofnun) it was decided to try a pilot scheme
to compile an inventory of the ice masses in
Tröllaskagi. This project will follow the re-
commendations of the International Commis-
sion of Snow and Ice (ICSI) as later imple-
mented by Norges Vassdrags- og Elektrisitets-
vesen and the Inland Water Directorate of
Canada. The Inventory process will follow four
stages:
Stage I: Location and indexing of all perennial
snow and ice masses from existing maps and
air photographs. 106 have been located in
Tröllaskagi (see map). Some of these are
rock glaciers.
Stage II: Ground recconnaissance to report on
accessibility, state of the ice etc., and to
erect ‘jöklamerki’.
Stage III: Ground mapping of selected glaciers
at 1 : 5,000.
Stage IV: Repeated measurements and mapping
at regular intervals.
The Trust recognises that the results obtain-
ed in any one season will be varied in quality
and will endeavour to standardise and improve
the work by careful pre-expedition training. A
manual for field survey work in North Iceland
has been published and copies are lodgecl with
Orkustofnun, Jöklarannsóknafélagið, Rann-
sóknaráð, Landsbókasafn Islands and Náttúru-
gripasafnið á Akureyri.
The first parties visited the area in 1973 to
work on Gljúfurárjökull, Bægisárjökull, Thver-
árjökull and Teigadalsjökull. For the moment
their reports are filed at the headquarters of
the Young Explorers’ Trust but an annual pro-
gress report will be submitted to the Editor of
‘Jökull’. Because of the heavy snow in 1973 all
the groups had difficulty in locating ice bound-
aries so that any mapping must be regarded as
tentative only.
Gljúfurárjökull: (Uppingham School. Leader:
A. E. Land) The report describes landforms
and problems encountered in establishing
control points for survey. One of the exist-
ing ‘jöklamerki’ was found to have collaps-
ecl. The other could not be found at all.
Bœgisárjöliull: (Edinburgh University. Leader:
F. Frölicher) Weather conditions restricted
results to the construction of four levelled
profiles up ancl across the glacier.
Thverárjökull: (N. E. Essex Technical College.
Leader: D. J. Bowden) The glacier snout was
found to be extremely steep and snow
covered. Two ‘jöklamerki’ were constructed,
also a base line and a levelled profile. The
glacier was not considered suitable for
further study by similar groups.
Teigadalsjökull: (Creighton School. Leacler: P.
D. Lintin) A map of the area in the im-
mediate vicinity of the snout was made and
tied in to the existing ‘jöklamerki’.
19th June 1974
Peak District National Park Study Centre,
Castleton, England.
Tony Escritt.
60 JÖKULL 24. ÁR