Edited by
J.J.M. van der Meer, Department of Geography, Queen Mary, University of London, UK
Description
The book deals with push moraines on Spitsbergen. The main body is a translation of the original German report by Karl Gripp on a 1927
expedition. The quality of Gripp's work is evaluated to see whether it stands the test of time. It is found that it is very modern, every
year people still go into the field with the same research questions. It is also found that most likely Gripp's report contains the first
description of features that we now take for granted, for instance the description of looped moraines to detect surges. Push moraines
are still being studied and to show where we stand now two papers have been added that analyse two particular examples, Holmströmbreen
and Sefströmbreen. The two examples are geographically close together, but reflect two completely different settings: terrestrial Holmströ
mbreen and tidewater Sefströmbreen.
Since a few years we know of the De Geer Archive, a collection of glass negatives of Spitsbergen,
relating to De Geer's expeditions between 1882 and 1910. The negatives have only emerged recently and a collection of prints relating
to Holmströmbreen and Sefströmbreen is included here. Together with a third paper incorporated in the book, this time an evaluation of
De Geer's photos and maps of the Sefströmbreen surge, this material shows the importance of incorporating historical documentation in
our studies.
Included in series
Developments in Quaternary Science
Audience:
Postgraduates and researchers who work with glaciations, palaeoclimatology, and climate modeling.
