Jökull - 01.12.1978, Qupperneq 59

North Iceland Glacier Inventory — 1977 Season
Skídadalur: Because of their experience and
ability to spend up to six weeks in the field the
British Schools Exploring Society (Leader:
Major Derek Jackson) were invited to carry
out an ambitious programme of glaciological,
survey and reconnaissance work on and
around Gljúfurárjökull. The map of Gljúfur-
árjökull shown in Fig. 1 is a result of this work.
Conditions were not easy. After a week of fine
weather they experienced sleet, snow, cold
north winds and sub-zero temperatures dur-
ing which the glacier disappeared under as
much as a metre of snow. Happily the ex-
pedition concluded with fourteen days of
temperatures of up to 25°C at the base
camp. For a part of the period they were
joined and assisted by two students from
Akureyri Grammar School.
1. Glacial Hydrology: The team used the ionic
wave method of measuring discharge to
establish an empirical relationship bet-
ween the depth of the Gljúfurá and the
discharge of the river. This was further
related to the meteorological conditions on
the glacier by taking hourly readings at
permanent stations on the ice. In addition
samples of water and ice were taken for
analysis for deuterium content. These are
being analysed by Helgi Björnsson. Samp-
les are also being analysed for their content
of silica, iron, aluminium, magnesium and
calcium in the hope of discovering whether
the source of water was mainly sub- or
supraglacial. The meteorologists esta-
blished a recording station at the glacier
snout and half-way up the glacier (860 m).
They also placed two nets of ablation
stakes.
2. Survey: Using a mixture of theodolite and
plane table survey the team successfully
completed a survey of Gljúfurárjökull at a
scale of 1:5 000. This is a first class perfor-
mance bearing in mind the terrain and
weather conditions. The glacier was found
to be in an interesting stage with the ice
front considerably steepened and poised
for some new activity or a new phase in the
development of its morphology.
3. Reconnaissance: Small groups visited sixteen
glacier sites in the Skídadalur basin (Basin
D) to build stone ‘jöklamerki’, report on
access, and to make recommendations for
survey. This completes the ground visits to
all but two of the permanent ice masses in
this basin.
Svarfadardalur: Helston School (Leader:
David Freeman) revisited the four glaciers
that contribute to Vatnsdalur and the two in
Grýtudalur. One purpose was to examine a
series of some 20 to 30 small dirt ridges run-
ning transverse to the flow of Grýtudalsjök-
ull eystri. Bad weather prevented a full ana-
lysis and they would repay further study. Be-
cause of bad weather, Worcester Royal
Grammar School (Leader: Bob Rogers) were
only able to make a full reconnaissance of one
glacier (D3).
Skjóldalur: An original aim of the Inventory
Project was to record and make preliminary
studies of rock glaciers. This was begun in
1977 by Dr. Brian Whalley (Queens Univer-
sity, Belfast) as a part of the Devizes School
expedition (Leader: Ray Roberts). This valley
was chosen from aerial photographs because
of the apparent range of rock glaciers and
JÖKULL 28. ÁR 57