The Hellstugu River. Investigations Concerning the Run-Off Conditions

Abstract

At the request of Professor Werenskiold and Mr. Adolf Hoel, run-off investigations were commenced in August 1939 in the Hellstugu river, a glacier stream in the Jotunheimen mountains. The object was to procure information of the melting conditions at the Hellstugu Glacier, as the run-off investigations should be coordinated with the simultaneously performed glacier measurements.

On account of the remote position and the comparatively large variations in the discharge during the day, it was necessary to establish an automatic level recorder, a so-called limnigraph. It was of course desirable to have the limnigraph erected as near as possible to the glacier. But in spite of protracted and detailed investigations, it appeared impossible to find a suitable place nearer than 1500 meters from the glacier front. Above this spot the river is filled up with stones and gravel, which cause the river-bed to be constantly subjected to changes, by which means