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
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
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]
Ukichiro Nakaya 1900 1962 Studied Tyndall figures, created first artificial snowflakes
Louis Rendu 1789 1859 Theorized on glacier motion
Valter Schytt 1919 1985 Studied Storglaciären in northern Sweden
Wilhelm Sievers 1860 1921 Documented South American ice ages
Sigurður Þórarinsson 1912 1983
John Tyndall 1820 1893 Studied glacier motion
Ignaz Venetz 1788 1859 Suggested the existence of past ice ages

References

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  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.