M Jackson - The Secret Lives of Glaciers

Copyright 2019 M Jackson

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations included in critical articles and reviews.

Printed in the United States

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Green Writers Press is a Vermont-based publisher whose mission is to spread a message of hope and renewal through the words and images we publish. Throughout we will adhere to our commitment to preserving and protecting the natural resources of the earth. To that end, a percentage of our proceeds will be donated to environmental activist groups. Green Writers Press gratefully acknowledges support from individual donors, friends, and readers to help support the environment and our publishing initiative.

Giving Voice to Writers & Artists Who Will Make the World a Better Place

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ISBN: 978-0-9962676-7-0

COVER DESIGN & MAP: ANI PENDERGAST
BOOK DESIGN BY HANNAH WOOD, DEDE CUMMINGS & GRANIA POWER
COVER ILLUSTRATION: LAURA MARSHALL

Lines from Tangled Up in Blue, by Bob Dylan, used with permission: Copyright 1974 by Rams Horn Music; renewed 2002 by Rams Horn Music.

THE PAPER USED IN THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY MILLS COMMITTED
TO RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES

We always did feel the same

We just saw it from a different point of view

Tangled up in blue

Bob Dylan, 1975

To Jon Marshall, for the days together, the days apart, and all the days to come.

B OOKS ARE THE PRODUCTS OF TIME , of minutes and hours and days continuously given. Im grateful to those who have generously given me their time, those who have poured more coffee and explained over and over, those who have shared maps and pictures and vehicles and homes and walks and meals, those who have edited and argued and encouraged, those who have supported, and above all else, those who have believed in me.

Particularly, Id like to acknowledge and thank my team of amazing and unstoppable women who have shepherded me and this work along: publisher Dede Cummings, editor Rose Alexandre-Leach, designer Ani Pendergast, artist Laura Harbage, and the entire team at Green Writers Press.

Im grateful for the substantial time my friends, Christine Carolan, Leslie McLees, Anna Moore, Doug Foster, Nick Perdue, and Cristina Faiver-Serna, put into reading drafts and chapters and ideas.

Jan and Lary Marshall offered airplane tickets, home-cooked meals, and support, while Jeralyn Jackson, Charlie Western, Sarah Jackson, and Kevin Malgesini handed out hot coffee, encouragement, wisdom, and advice.

The U.S. Fulbright Program and the Icelandic Fulbright Commission, the National Science Foundation, the University of Oregons Geography Department, and the National Geographic Society were all central in supporting my research.

Ford Cochran brought extensive expertise and kindness to my research. Im grateful to the additional members of my dissertation committee for their time and insight: Mark Carey, Alec Murphy, Andrew Marcus, and Shaul Cohen.

I could not have completed this book without the immense support, time, and generosity of the hundreds and hundreds of Icelanders who shared their country with me. There are too many to list, but you know who you are. Thank you.

Thank you to the fantastic team at the University of Iceland Research Center and Nheimarall of whom greeted me with open doors, especially orvarur rnason, Gudn Svavasdtttir, Dav Stefnsson, Hugrn Harpa Reynisdttir, Margrt Gauja Magnsdttir, Kristn Hermannsdttir, Snvarr Gumundsson, Soffa Auur Birgisdttir, and rds Halldrsdttir.

I gained lifelong friendships throughout this research, including a sister in Sigrn Sveinbjrnsdttir. Stephan Mantler, Inga Stumpf, Haukur Ingi Einarsson, Helga rnadttir, Fanney Sveinsdttir, Asds Jnsdttir, and Sindri Ragnarsson helped me access the ice, provided support in the community, and poured more coffee.

This book would not be remotely possible without Jon Marshall and the unceasing support and love he offers me each day.

W HILE THIS BOOK IS WRITTEN IN ENGLISH , many words, names, and places are in Icelandic. As such, it is helpful to understand a little bit here about the Icelandic language.

The Icelandic alphabet has thirty-two letters. Four letters, C, Q, W, and Z, are not part of the modern Icelandic alphabet. Pronunciation is relatively straightforward. Each letter indicates a specific sound, and stress typically falls on the first syllable of each word.

Aa- as a in man

- as ou in house

Bb- as bp in spit

Dd- as d in daughter

- like th in breathe

Ee- as e in bed

- as ye in yet

Ff- as f in father

Gg- like g in good

Hh- as h in hello

Ii- like i in hit

- as ee in meet

Jj- like y in yes

Kk- as k in keep

Ll- as l in live

Mm- as m in man

Nn- as n in not

Oo- as o in not

- like o in sole

Pp- as p in pot

Rr- trilled identical to Spanish rolled r

Ss- as s in soup

Tt- as t in top

Uu- like German in ber

- like oo in moon

Vv- like v in very with a light w

Xx- as x in six

Yy- as i in hit

- as ee in meet

- like th in thin

- like i in hi

- like u in fur

like g in good at the beginning of a word; like k in wick between a vowel and -l, -n; like ch in Scottish loch after vowels and before t, s; like y in young between vowel and -i, -j; dropped between a, , , u.

(Eth) and (Thorn) are variants of the th sound. Hv is pronounced kv. Double ll is pronounced lt with a click. There are additional variants. For an excellent tutorial, see the University of Icelands free online course on the Icelandic language.

I have kept place names in Icelandic as Icelanders use them when speaking in English. Some place-specific suffixes in Icelandic denote types of environmental features such as -jkull: glacier (Hoffellsjkull/Hoffells-glacier). Others include: -fjrur: fjord; -fli: bay; -fjall/-fell: mountain; -heii: moor/mountain; -/-fljt/-kvsl: river; -vatn/-ln: lake/reservoir; -dalur: valley; -hraun: lava field; -sandur: outwash plain; -rfi: wilderness.