Studies on the Rhone Glacier, 1927.—The Structure of the ice in a compressed zone on the South-Eastern part of the glacier

Abstract

The following paper embodies the results of a study of the Rhone Glacier in the summer of 1927. The object of the investigation was to map the structures developed in a selected zone which had been subjected to the influence of concentrated pressure. In the Alpine area this problem has been overshadowed by investigation of the wider problems of the physics of a glacier as a whole, as evidenced by the large amount of research accomplished, notably on the viscosity, the granular structure, and the movement of the ice (9 and 12). Deeley, for example, discussing the genesis of movement of a glacier, writes as follows (4):— “Throughout its course a glacier is urged along, not by a pressure from above, but by gravity acting upon each molecule of ice during its whole course. . . No doubtthrustdoes play some part in the movement . . .but it is quite a subordinate feature and only produces local effects”(1895). The point of view of a geologist regarding ice-motion has been given by Lamplugh, who in 1903 wrote as follows (6):— “The much discussed problem as to the physics of ice motion is not of immediate consequence to the field-worker in glacial geology, who sees all round him the evidence that the moving mass behaved to all intents and purposes as a plastic body, be the cause what it may.”