FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1920, Page 3

FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER

CHANGES AT TERMINAL FACE. Observations have been made for some years to record, changes in the position of the terminal face of the Franz Josef glacier. Dr Macintosh Bell, formerly director of the New Zealand Geological Survey, had pegs placed in front of the face. By these pegs changes may be measured fairly easily. Observations in this direction have been made by Mr A. Graham, Government guide, and Mr R. Speight reported to the Philosophical Institute last week that the observations show that during the years 1909 to 1914, the glacier has retreated to a surprising extent. The whole face, on the average, lias retreated 170 feet, and at present it is further back than ever has been noted previously. He said that this does not show that the glacier is permanently contracting. There are distinct evidence of pulses, which show that there is a forward movement of the ice. The pulses, probably, wfere caused in periods, many years ago, when the snowfall that feeds the glacier was much heavier than at present, and the snowball now at the head of the glacier will make its appearance at the terminal face in years to come. The Franz Josef Glacier is being used for these observations because it is very free from moraine, and its terminal face is very distinct. It is hoped that the observations of the pulses and of changes in the position of the terminal face will supply some idea of climatic cycles in the South Island during the Nineteenth Century, and will enable the presence or absence of a regular climatic period to be definitely determined.