Gas Enclosures in a Temperate Glacier¹

1 These studies were aided by a contract between ONR, Department of the Navy, and the Arctic Institute of North America.

Abstract

Techniques are described for separating gas from glacier ice and analyzing for oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. A systematic survey of a temperate glacier for enclosed gas showed 1) no general loss of gas from the glacier, but a specific loss of oxygen from the gas from the upper to the lower part of the glacier, and 2) the gas pressure and ice density increased from the upper to the lower part of the glacier. Present evidence indicates that a chemical reduction is responsible for the oxygen loss. The various data are discussed in relation to glacier mechanics.

Notes

1 These studies were aided by a contract between ONR, Department of the Navy, and the Arctic Institute of North America.