The sun., 1903-12-07
MEYER BACK FROM The ANDES
GERMAN EXPLORERS WORK on
ECUADOR GLACIERS.

Finds. - He Did in Africa, That Equatorial
Glaciers Are Receding Gradually. Duo
70 Cosmic Climatic Changes-The
Peculiar Snow and Ice Forms.
DR.. Hans Meyer, the famous German ex-
plorer, passed through this city the other
day on his way home from Ecuador where
he spent all last summer studying the
glaciers and ice fields Of the high cordil-
leras. 1t was DR.. Meyer who reached the
top OF Kilimanj jaro. the highest mountain
Of Africa, after about twenty vain attempts
had been made by others. While visiting
some friends in this city, the evening be-
fore he sailed for Hamburg. Or. Meyer told
OF the purpose and some Of the results OF
last summers work.
Il went to the Ecuadorian Andes he
said, because wished to compare the
Glacial conditions in equatorial America
with those that have studied In equatorial
Africa. The investigation OF glaciers In
Ecuador has been neglected, as scientlnc
travellers have given most OF their atten-
tion to the geology and volcanic phenomena
OF the region. spent all summer among
the highest mountains and camped 1or
weeks at a time at elevations Of over 1900
feat. used the Instruments and the camp
equipment which had employed In africa.
I climbed Chimborazo, Antisana' Coto-
paxi. Altar and several others.
.The glaciers and ice fields there dlner
from those usually seen by mountaineers
in structure, stratidcation and In the size
Of the neve grains, the material which is
;ntermediate between snow and ice ana
ia lose like sand The neve-penitente
fields. where the snow IL heaped up into
sorms that are fancied to resemble peni-
tents on their knees in supphcation' con-
trast with those in other parts OF the world
bv their greater extent. The ice forms
On the summit Of Cotopaxi around the crater
are very singular somewhat resembling
shineled roof, and are apparently pecuhar
IN this region. The forms and the extent
~ the moraines and other glacial aspects
olso differ from those in other regions.
aIn many respects the Ice forms diner
from, those of Kilinanjaro and Kenia In
Fast Africa, but in more respects they are
Identical. In both regions the recent Ice
hotb in the glaciers and the ice fields, is
rec.dinp. The melting Of the ice covering
Ia GOING ON faster than ice formation. The
io,seat limit Of the Stubel glacier on the
northwest side Of Chimborazo, is now 'Soo
feet above the teTHlulhi iioi "o ~
by that glacier in comparatively reoeh,
times: and the amount OF recent giac'ai
recession on the slopes OF Antisana and Altar
is still greater.
.Both in equatorial America and Africa
the oldest or very ancient terminalmoraines
are far below the present area covered by
ice There are series Of conoentric moraines
formed of polished and scratched rocks.
The oldest of them lying from $500 to 2.eO0
feet below the present ice. This great
recession ia due of course to climatic changes
which apparently were not local but oosmic,
affecting the whole earth
The explorer was accompanied by MIR. Il.
peschrei,er, an artist Of Munich, who made
twenty-six paintings of the mountains.
DR.. Meyer was taking home many photo
graphs and also geological and botanical
oollactiOnR