Using expressions for ice-shelf creep derived by Weertman (1957) and Thomas (1973[b]) a general method is developed for calculating equilibrium thickness profiles, velocities, and strain-rates for any ice shelf. This is done first for an unconfined glacier tongue and the result agrees well with data for Erebus Glacier tongue (Holdsworth, 1974). Anomalies occur within the first 3 km after the hinge zone and these are too great to be the result of local bottom freezing; they are probably due to disturbance of the velocity field. Secondly, profiles are calculated for bay ice shelves. Thickness gradients are largely independent of melt-rate or flow parameters but are inversely proportional to the width of the bay. Data from Antarctic ice shelves agree with this result both qualitatively and quantitatively. The theory is readily extended to ice shelves in diverging and converging bays. An ice shelf in a diverging bay can only remain intact if it is thick enough and slow enough to creep sufficiently rapidly in the transverse direction. If it cannot, it will develop major rifts or will come adrift from the bay walls. It is then likely to break up. The presence of ice rises or areas of grounding towards the seaward margin can radically alter the size of the ice shelf which can form. The theory could be used as a starting point to study non-equilibrium behaviour.

The results of 66 Schlumberger geoelectric soundings on first-year sea ice are analysed to obtain average values of d.c. electrical resistivity both parallel ρ1 and perpendicular ρp to the long brine cell direction. This analysis yields ρ1 = 104 Ω m, 80 Ω m, 45 Ω m, and ρp = 298 Ω m, 230 Ω m, 129 Ω m for brine volumes νb of 40‰, 67‰, and 82‰ respectively. The observed dependence of ρ1 on νb is used in conjunction with a mixing formula for the electrical resistivity of a two-phase heterogeneous system to arrive at values of “average” brine cell lengths l for relatively warm sea ice. This treatment yields l ≈ 1.7 cm for 40‰ ≤νb≤ 70‰ with a rapid extension of brine cell lengths for brine volumes above c. 70‰.

From field observations this paper describes the growth and development of first-year sea ice and its interaction with petroleum. In particular, when sea ice initially forms, there is an upward salt transport so that the ice surface has a highly saline layer, regardless of whether the initial ice is frazil, columnar, or slush ice. When the ice warms in the spring, because of the eutectic condition, the surface salt liquifies and drains through the ice, leading to the formation of top-to-bottom brine channels and void spaces in the upper part of the ice. If oil is released beneath winter ice, then the oil becomes entrained in thin lenses within the ice. In the spring, this oil flows up to the surface through the newly-opened brine channels and distributes itself within the brine-channel feeder systems, on the ice surface, and in horizontal layers in the upper part of the ice. The paper shows that these layers probably form from the interaction of the brine drainage with the percolation of melt water from surface snow down into the ice and the rise of the oil from below. Finally in the summer, the oil on the surface leads to melt-pond formation. The solar energy absorbed by the oil on the surface of these melt ponds eventually causes the melt pond to melt through the ice, and the oil is again released into the ocean.

Numerical hydrodynamic simulation of the jet-roof geometry for control of snow deposition to prevent cornice formation at mountain ridges is reported. Different jet-roof geometries are evaluated based upon the extent and size of the ground-surface stagnation region and the recirculation region to the lee of the roof. Results show that jet-roof length should be of the same order as nominal height of the roof from the ground surface. Efficient placement of the roof is shown to be that with the leading edge directly above the mountain ridge, and roof angle approximately equal to lee slope angle. In numerical simulation of flow-field start-up, near steady-state flow is approached in less than 1.0 s real time, indicating short transient-flow duration.

Avalanche-hazard evaluation by field analysts is largely achieved along causal intuitive lines, depending for its success upon the experience of the analyst in his particular area. Several attempts have been made in the past to quantify such procedures by means of statistical models based upon meteorological measurements. Modified forms of a multivariate technique known as linear discriminant analysis have been tried with only partial success. Intercorrelated variables and autocorrelated data, omission of time-lagged terms, insufficient variation in the dependent variable, and sampling difficulties may have combined to weaken the discriminant approach. These problems and the nature of the phenomenon suggest that a stochastic transfer-function time-series approach may be a useful alternative method.

A numerical weighting scheme has been devised for the representation of avalanche activity for the Rogers Pass area of British Columbia in terms of terminus, size, and moisture-content codes for each event. From various types of correlation analysis performed on data for the period 1965–73, models were developed using the “best” weighting scheme for avalanche activity representation and the most promising meteorological variables, as indicated by the results of the correlation analysis.

These relatively simple models demonstrate a good fit to the actual data, in both a descriptive and a simulated-forecasting situation.

A computer code is reported that models two-dimensional flow of a snow-avalanche cross-section over a down-slope structure of arbitrary cross-sectional shape. Impact forces and pressure are predicted, and the flow pattern past the structure may be arrayed pictorially. The model is applied to the prediction of forces on rectangular obstacles which are of fractional height to the nominal avalanche flow depth for avalanche flow speeds up to 20 m/s. The program is applied to modeling an experiment by Salm of impact of snow blocks upon a slope-normal wall in order to demonstrate the accuracy of the code in comparison to impact-force histories measured by Salm. Difference between the experimental results and the computer simulation is less than 21%, and supporting discussion is given on factors that may account for the difference.

A series of end moraines, with a remarkable saw-tooth pattern, is reported from the glacier foreland of Bødalsbreen, a northern outlet of the ice cap Jostedalsbreen. The three-dimensional morphology of the moraines is described and analysed. Historical records and lichenometric measurements indicate that they were deposited after the “Little Ice Age” glacier maximum of the mid-eighteenth century. It is inferred that the local topography of Bødalen was conducive to the formation of a heavily crevassed pecten at the snout of Bødalsbreen, which produced the end moraines by a push mechanism during minor glacier advances. The observations suggest that pushing may be an underestimated mechanism in moraine ridge formation generally.

Detailed measurements on several avalanches verify that a Daniels’ (1945) type statistical correction to Roch’s (1966) stability index would accurately predict snow-slope instability. It is recommended that one-half the median of at least 50 shear-strength measurements be used as a measure of the strength of a weak layer.

Measurements of aerial admittance as a function of height above a snow surface show that when the surface temperature is below freezing, the aerial performance is insensitive to slight surface irregularities.