The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-06-08
By DIR. DONALD b. MCMILLAN
copyright. 1898. by Cosmopolitan
News Service.)


WISCASSEL. Me-, June S.-Since
It has become known that one Of the
chief purposes of my forthcoming
trip to the Arctic, sailing from this
port June %, is the study of glaci-
ology, seeking further signs Of the
coming of a new ice age, have been
deluged with questions
Much comment has been aroused
because biologists have reported
that the ice is retreating throughout
the world, while all indications I
have seen in the Arctic tend to the
belief that another ice age, far dis
tant, comparatively, will again find
much Of the United States and Eu-
rope under a heavy covering of ice.
From my observations in the Far
North during the last fifteen years,
all glaciers are advancing from the
main. ice cap down through the val
leys on their way to the sea. The
day is coming when these will all
contribute to the great mass drifting
southwark.
Increasing for 70 Years.
A study Of maps and narratives of
Arctic explorers who have gone be-
fore realize that this increase has
continued steadily for at least seven
ty-three years. This is decidedly in
teresting in view of the fact that
our glacialists report all glaciers of
the Alps, in Northwest. Canada and
in Alaska to be retreating rapidly.
In Greenland we have contiuen-
tai ice cap of SOC, 900 square miles.
reaching to an altitude of 900 feet.
Is this increasing or decreasing in
thickness, or does it remain at a con-
slant height, the outgoing crop of
icebergs balancing the annual snow
fall? No consistent observations
have ever been taken. 1t is very evil
dent that at one time all of Green
land was buried beneath the ice. To-
day there are reasons for believing
that the ice cap has reached its
minimum size and is again increas-
ing in area. Possibly this may be
due to an upIift in the land instead
Of an increase in humidity.
In July, 1875. the great Jacobs Ha-
ven glacier, on the western shore of
Greenland, was moving at the rate
of "a feet daily, the Torsukatak at
80 feet, the Karajat at %, Itivdli-
arsuk at 46 in April and from Fl to
% in May. In August, 1886, one OBJ
server reports the great Augpad-
lartok moved three and four times
the maximum rates of the glaciers
in the Alps.
Navigation Menaced.
The birthplace of nearly all our
North Atlantic icebergs is on the
West Greenland coast. between 6S
and IS degrees north latitude. If
these glaciers are advancing more
rapidly each year, the result will be
an increase in millions of tons of
drift ice and consequently an added
menace to navigation.
Possibly, in view Of this situation,
the international ice patrol has ask,
ed my opinion as to the advisabilitiy
of establishing a station for the OBJ
servation of icebergs as they float
down from the North. / doubt very
much whether it will be possible to
check accurately by this method, but
] do believe that a survey of the
Greenlard ice cap and the great gla-
cierS viii reveal approximately how
many tons of ice, in the form Of
bergs, may be expected from year
TO year.
Many persons wonder how the ad-
vance of glaciers can be measured.
All that is necessary to know is its
boundaries in a given year, to know
TO what point of land or water it ex-
tended. A later observation then re.
Veals whether the glacier has ex-
tended beyond or receded from that
point.
Ice also leaves it's telltale imprint
on land which it has covered, SO
that ii is not difficult to trace the
recession of glaciers,