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.
| 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
- ^ 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.