An application of snow survey data to glacier research

Snow surveys of a more complex procedure than usual are used in conducting research on glaciers to determine; (1) an understanding of the hydrology of glacier covered regions and (2), the use of glaciers as quantitative indicator of climate. Research project information gathered by the Geological Survey indicate the possibility of a backward look at climatic factors of past years. Data trends shown graphically for snow accumulation or ablation of the glaciers. Snow surveys on the glaciers at times use standard tubes but more often dig pits into the snow covering the glacier to ice, then use machine core drills for deep examination of the strata of the glacial ice.