Sharp, Robert P. Soil Structures in the St. Elias Range, Yukon Territory. Journ. of Geomorphology, Vol. 5, No. 4, 1942, pp. 274–301.
The various soil structures in Wolf Creek are attributed to vigorous frost action supplemented by solifluction. Stone nets, stone garlands, stone stripes and earth hummocks are dealt with. Some of the soil structures are in process of development, others are thought to be of 100 to 4000 years old.
Klebelsberg, R. Von. Die Heutige Schneegrenze in den Ostalpen. Berichte des Naturwissenschaftlich-medizinischen Vereins in Innsbruck, Bd. 47,1939–46.
The height of the snow line (Schneegrenze) is given as 2600 to 3100 m. in the eastern Alps, the lowest figure being in the Lechtal ranges and reaching its highest level in the Oetztal and the Litzner group. In a review of this work, the Editor of Die Alpen, Dr. Max Oechslin,Footnote * comments that there should be a clear distinction between snow line (Schneegrenze) and firn line (Firngrenze) since the former may change from day to day, while the latter only varies at fastest from year to year. The firn line has little influence on the glacier economy.
Schaefer, Vincent J. Properties of Particles of Snow and the Electrical Effects they Produce in Storms. Trans. Am. Geophysical Union, Vol. 28, No. 4, 1947, pp. 587–614.
Two types of atmospheric electricity were found to occur during storms. These have been related to specific forms of snow crystals and other properties which can be observed at ground stations. Measurement of velocity of fall, quantity and sign of electric charge, mass, range in quiet air, variety of crystal forms and other properties of single crystals are given. The fragmentation which results when snow crystals hit a solid at high velocity is described and illustrated with photomicrographs. The frictional electricity produced when crystals are broken as they hit a metal surface, when compared to the charge carried by falling crystals, is found to be more than a hundred times greater in some instances. Unusual amounts of atmospheric electricity recorded in fair weather are described and shown to be related to the passage of frontal systems and other meteorological phenomena. A method is described for preparing snow-crystal replicas and for measuring the size and distribution of cloud particles.
Gatty, O., Fleming, W. L. S., and Edmonds, J. M. Some Types of Polygonal Surface Markings in Spitsbergen. Am. Journ Sci., Vol. 240, 1942, pp. 81–92.
A number of measurements of surface polygons in Spitsbergen is recorded and analysed statistically and several new features of polygonal systems are described. A tentative hypothesis of origin of these polygons is put forward to account for the new features. It is not very different from older hypotheses, but throws increased emphasis on the importance of solifluction and vegetation. It is pointed out that deformation of the surface in general occurs when part of the surface is rigid and part of it plastic, and this is the special significance of the freezing point in producing polygonal markings.
Oppenheim, Victor. Glaciaciones en el Peru. Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisico-Quimicas y Naturales, Vol. 6, Nos. 22 and 23, 1945, pp. 319–21, illustrations.
Observations made in various high ranges of Peru indicate that there are evident remains of three to four glaciations in the Andes of Peru. These vary from levels of 2800 m. which is the lowest, to 4800 m. In this manner the ice from the Pleistocene epoch to the present has retreated approximately 2000 m.
The lowest level of an actual glacier observed, Tullpa Raju, in the Cordillera Blanca, is 4300 m. Remains of human buildings prove that more than 500 years ago man inhabited the same region at higher altitudes, which indicates the unequal and sporadic movement of the ice, depending not only on climatic conditions but also on certain factors yet little known to modern geology and climatology.
Rogstad, Olaf. Jostedalsbreens Tilbakegang. Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift, Bind 8, Hefte 8, 1941, pp. 273–93.
In this paper an attempt has been made to determine the decrease of the glacier volume of Jostedalsbreen during the last forty years, as based on a comparison of the hydrographie researches in some watercourses and the published measurements of the length of glacier tongues. There is an English summary of three pages.
Rogstad, Olaf. Väre Breers Tilbakegang. Norsk Geografisk Tidsskrift, Bind 9, Hefte 4, 1942, pp. 129–57.
This paper sets out to determine the decrease of the glacier volume of Svartisen and Folgefonnen in a similar way to that for Jostedalsbreen. In this connection an investigation has been made of the effects upon the regulated water supply in Glomfjord Power Station by the decrease of Svartisen. There is an English summary of five pages.
