Research scientist measuring movement of Glacier - stock photo

Vatanjokull Ice Cap, Iceland. Finnur Palsson, is a electrical engineer, a member of the ICELAND GLACIOLOGICAL SOCIETY. He is using scientific GPS equipment to measure the movement on various places of the ice cap on Vatnajokull glacier located in Iceland. Poles are placed in the ice for many years and stand several meters up, depending on the thickness of the snowfall each year. These poles in the ice can move enabling the scientist to measure the speed of the glacier. The helicopter in the background is used for transportation to the glacier (ice cap) the only method of reaching this point. Vatnajokull is 8400 square kilometres with average thickness of 500 meters and is the biggest glacier in Europe. The Ice cores are drilled only 6 to 18 meters down which is only snow for one year. There is an ice lens between years in the snow separating the winters.