On Northern Glacial Drifts: some peculiarities and their significance

Abstract

The President (Prof. H. H. Swinnerton) reminded the Fellows that some time ago Mr. Carruthers had read a paper before the Society “on Northern Glacial Drifts” which provoked much interest; so much so, indeed, that it was decided to devote a separate meeting entirely to the continuation of the discussion after the paper had been published. That discussion was now about to be resumed. He then showed two slides of photographs taken by Mr. R. Bentham of the snout of the Craig Harbour glacier, Ellesmere Land. One of these was taken in June, 1937, and showed water flowing from beneath the glacier while as yet none was flowing on the surface. The second was taken in July, 1937, when the thaw was at its maximum. This showed both surface and subglacial streams in full flood, a condition which lasted three weeks. These pictures gave evidence that subglacial melting did actually take place. Mr. N. E. Odell said that he was critical of certain expressed views of Mr. Carruthers regarding polar glaciers, and also of one or two other aspects of his important paper. The principal characteristics of high polar glaciers (in contrast largely to glaciers of the temperate zone) were (1) relative freedom from surface moraine; (2) confinement of their morainic load to the lower layers; (3) lamellar movement (that is, differential thrusting within these lower layers); (4) development of imbricate structure within the lower strata; (5) contortion of ice-laminae, especially just above the lower debris-loaded layers and round lenses