Jökull - 01.12.1974, Page 65

North Iceland Glacier Inventory — 1974
After a training weekend in May 1974 three
groups went into the following field areas:
Svarfadardalur (Dorset Association of Youth
Clubs. Leader: Frank Gwatkin): This was a re-
connaissance group to compile data sheets on
the ice masses contributing to this drainage
system. They visited six ice masses and placed
unofficial ‘jöklamerki’ on Vatnsdalsjökull 2
which shows signs of active movement. The
most active glacier seemed to be Vifilsjökull
which is heavily crevassed. The work will be
continued in 1975. The following is a summary
of each site:
*05D4 Hájökull: An icefield in a simple basin
with a lobed front. The longitudinal pro-
file is even. The nearest of the four end
moraines is 500 m from the snout. It is
small and partly ice-cored. There is a
moraine-dammed lake with an ice contact
shore.
*05D5 Vifilsjökull: A rock glacier with a com-
pound basin and a regular, convex snout.
There are signs of very active movement.
In the four medium-sized encl moraines there
is a moraine-dammed lake not shown on
the 1960 air photography.
*05D6 Heljarjökull: A mountain glacier in a
simple basin with a regular, convex snout.
It has an even longitudinal profile and
shows signs of slight advance. The nearest
of the four end moraines is just 15 m from
the snout and is ice-cored. There are two
moraine-dammed lakes, one of which has an
ice-contact shore. The glacier has a medial
moraine ancl is intensely crevassed. Access is
difficult.
*05D7 Vatnsdalsjökull 1: A glacieret in a simple
basin with a regular convex snout. The long
profile is even. The nearest of the six small
end moraines is 200 m from the snout.
There is an ice-contact, moraine-dammed
lake and the glacier has an abundant cover-
ing of surface moraine. There is no visible
sign of movement.
*05D8 Vatnsdalsjökull 2: A rock glacier in a
compound basin backed by nevee-sheathed
slopes and fronted by a broad mass of active
ice. The long profile is even. The nearest
of the four small end moraines is 50 m from
the snout and is ice-cored.
*05D9 Vatnsdalsjökull 3: A mountain glacier
with a compouncl basin with a regular, con-
vex snout and showing signs of recent ancl
continuous movement. The long profile is
even. The nearest of the three medium-
sized end moraines is 100 m from the snout
and is ice-cored. The glacier has abundant
surface moraine.
*) The glacier names are derived from the
valley or mountain nearest to them. Locally
they may have quite different names. If this is
the case it would be useful to know them.
Gljúfurárjökull (Sawtry Village College.
Leader: Maurice Dybeck): The cairns built in
1973 were used to complete a survey of the
glacier snout at 1 : 5000. Seven profiles were
taken and tied to control points. In addition
a 16 mm colour, sound film entitled ‘Looking
at Glaciers’ was made. It is intended primarily
for school audiences ancl will be useful at the
annual training weekend. Gljúfurárjökull will
be revisited in 1975.
Thverárjökull (N. E. Essex Technical College.
Leader: Des. Bowden): In 1973 Thverárjökull
was too deep in snow to carry out any useful
survey work. In 1974 liowever is was possible
to extend the survey but it will be necessary
to resite the base line terminals in 1975.
More detailed reports from all these groups
will be lodged with Rannsóknaráð ríkisins og
Jöklarannsóknafélag íslands. The full reports
are lodged with the Young Explorers’ Trust
which now has a full-time Executive Officer.
The Trust gratefully acknowledges the help of
Jónas Thorleifsson, Koti, Hermann Adalsteins-
son, Klængshóli, and Sveinn Vigfússon, Thverá,
JÖKULL 24. ÁR 61