FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26662, 22 February 1952, Page 10

FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

Changes In Terminal

Face

RAINFALL SUGGESTED AS CAUSE

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. Feb. 22. Ever since the terminal face of the Franz Josef glacier advanced spectacularly in 1947, when the glacier moved forward 21 feet in seven days, there hat been much speculation among scientists and laymen about the future of the glacier. Although geologists have recorded the movements of the glacier for nearly 60 years, there has never been any means until recently of forecasting future changes in the glacier. The last scientific record of the behaviour of the glacier was completed in 1940. In recent years, geologists from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Wellington, have studied the movements of the glacier, and have now suggested a means of forecasting its future movements. During recent years, the advance and retreat of the terminal face of the glacier have been particularly marked. From 1934 to 1936, it retreated 50 chains. In the middle of 1947 the terminal face began to advance, and a high face of ice developed. The terminal face has remained in its present position since October, 1950, but since 1947 it has advanced 15 chains. A bulletin issued by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research says that the rainfall figures of the Ross and Hokitika districts suggest that the advances of the glacier result from periods of high precipitation, and the retreats from low precipitation. The effects are shown about five years later at the terminal face. The department says that the balance between the amount of ice now being brought down the glacier and the amount lost by melting determines whether the terminal face advances, remains static, or retreats. TTie present drop in the level of the glacier indicates that less ice is being transported, and a further advance is held unlikely. The department considers that some retreat of the terminal face would appear probable from the rainfall records of the Itfst five years.