List of glaciologists

Glaciology first emerged as a science in the Swiss Alps, where most of the first glaciologists lived. Since then glaciologists from several countries, particularly from the First World, have made notable contributions to the discipline. Many glaciologists have backgrounds in geology, physics and climatology.

List of notable glaciologists
Name Birth Death Contributions
Louis Agassiz 1807 1873 First to scientifically propose the existence of past ice ages
Richard Alley 1957 Studied the effects of basal properties on glacier motion.
Jens Esmark 1763 1839 Extension of past glaciations
Jón Eyþórsson 1898 1968 Long-term observation and measurement of glacier margins in Iceland
Andrea Fischer 1973 Dynamics of climate change on the surface and subsurface of glaciers
James David Forbes 1809 1868 Concluded that glaciers were viscous bodies
Helen Fricker 1969 Discovered active subglacial lakes in Antarctica.
Chad Greene 1984 Produced the first global assessment of glacier seasonal dynamics.
Louis Lliboutry 1922 2007 Formation of penitentes, surveyed Andean glaciers
Mark Meier 2012 Expert on sea level rise due to melting glaciers; Director of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR) from 1985 to 1994.[1]
John H. Mercer 1922 1987 Linked the greenhouse effect to the potential for rapid sea level rise via marine ice sheet instability.
Ukichiro Nakaya 1900 1962 Studied Tyndall figures, created first artificial snowflakes
John Nye 1923 2019 Developed a fundamental flow law for glaciers.
Louis Rendu 1789 1859 Theorized on glacier motion
Eric Rignot 1961 Produced the first pan-Antarctic map of glacier velocity.
Valter Schytt 1919 1985 Studied Storglaciären in northern Sweden
Wilhelm Sievers 1860 1921 Documented South American ice ages
Sigurður Þórarinsson 1912 1983 significant contributions in many areas of geology, especially volcanology and glaciology, both in Iceland and abroad.
John Tyndall 1820 1893 Studied glacier motion
Ignaz Venetz 1788 1859 Suggested the existence of past ice ages
Mary Vaux Walcott 1860 1940 Amateur glaciologist who studied and documented changes to the Illecillewaet Glacier for 25 years

References

  1. ^ Brennan, Charlie (2012-11-28). "Boulder's Mark F. Meier, pioneer of glacial melt study, dies; Iowa native led Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research for nine years". Daily Camera. Retrieved 2012-12-20.