Geology, Vol. 1 [of 3] : $b Geologic processes and their resultsSalisbury, Rollin D.
Science
Geology, Vol. 1 [of 3] : $b Geologic processes and their results
Salisbury, Rollin D.
Geology
=Temperature of the interior of the ice.=—The variation of temperature
of the surface of a glacier has already been shown to lie between a
maximum of 32° Fahr. and the minimum temperature of the region where
the glacier occurs. Lower, in the zone of fluctuating temperature, the
variation is less, and where the zone of fluctuating temperature passes
into the zone of constant temperature, variation ceases. The thickness
of the zone of fluctuating temperature varies with the temperature of
the region where the glacier occurs, being greatest where the winters
are coldest. In the case of all glaciers except thin ones in very cold
regions, the temperatures within the zone of constant temperature range
from the mean annual temperature of the region at the top of the zone
(provided this is not above the melting-point of ice at this depth) to
the melting temperature of the ice at the bottom. Within these limits
the range may be great or slight.
If we consider only the effects of the external seasonal temperatures
and the internal heat of the earth, it appears that all the ice in
the zone of constant temperature in the lower end of a typical alpine
glacier should have a constant melting temperature, for the average
temperature of regions where the ends of such glaciers occur is usually
above 32° Fahr., and this determines a temperature of 32° Fahr. (or a
little less) at the top of the zone, while a melting temperature is
maintained at the bottom by the earth’s interior heat. In thin glaciers
of very cold regions, where the zone of constant temperature has
relatively slight thickness, the low temperature descending from the
surface may so far overcome the effect of internal heat as to keep the
bottom of the ice at a freezing temperature. In all other cases, the
ice at the bottom of the under zone has a melting temperature, while
that above is probably colder.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account