PROCEEDINGS

OF

The Geographical Society

OF THE PACIFIC.

January 23, 1883.

CONTENTS:

Arctic Ice Notes, by Capt. Hooper, U. S. R. M.

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL.:

1883,

THE LIBRAP

Mxchange Duphonte.

OF CONCRI

PROCEEDINGS

OF

The Geographical Society

OF THE PACIFIC.

Meeting of January 23d, 1883.

ARCTIC ICE NOTES.

By CAPT. HOOPER, U. S. R. M.

The great impenetrable mass of ice which, so far as has been observed by man, entirely surrounds the polar regions, is called the "pack." The loose ice or detached pieces which float near the edge of the pack, and, under certain conditions of wind and current, become a part of it, is called "drift ice," and is designated 'patch," "floe" or "field," according to its magnitude, ranging from the smallest pieces to several miles in extent. Icebergs are formed from glaciers, and although found floating on the sea, are entirely foreign to it. The glacier, being formed on land above the sea level, descends in obedience to the laws of gravitation until it meets the sea, where large pieces called "bergs" are detached. The large, high floes of sea ice, which in size resemble the smaller bergs, were appropriately named "floebergs" by Captain Fielding, of the Royal Navy, a member of the Nares Expedition.