Almut Iken (1 October 1933 – 10 December 2018) was a German glaciologist most noted for her work on the role of basal meltwater in subglacial motion. In 2011, she was awarded the

Seligman Crystal The Seligman Crystal is an award of the International Glaciological Society. The prize is "awarded from time to time to one who has made an outstanding scientific contribution to glaciology so that the subject is now enriched" and named after Gera ...

award from the

International Glaciological Society The International Glaciological Society (IGS) was founded in 1936 to provide a focus for individuals interested in glaciology, practical and scientific aspects of snow and ice. It was originally known as the "Association for the Study of Snow a ...

and remains the only female recipient.

Early life and education

Iken was born in

Bremen Bremen (Low German also: ''Breem'' or ''Bräm''), officially the City Municipality of Bremen (german: Stadtgemeinde Bremen, ), is the capital of the Germany, German States of Germany, state Bremen (state), Free Hanseatic City of Bremen (''Freie H ...

, Germany on 1 October 1933. Through secondary school, she had a particular interest in physics, motivating her to take science and math courses. She went on to study physics at the

University Heidelberg } Heidelberg University, officially the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, (german: Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg; la, Universitas Ruperto Carola Heidelbergensis) is a public research university in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, ...

and obtained a Bachelor's degree in 1959. She worked as a senior high school lecturer after her Bachelor's studies, before pursuing a PhD at

McGill University McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill Universit ...

in Montreal in 1970 under the supervision of

Fritz Müller Johann Friedrich Theodor Müller (31 March 1822 – 21 May 1897), better known as Fritz Müller, and also as Müller-Desterro, was a German biologist who emigrated to southern Brazil, where he lived in and near the German community of Blumenau, ...

. When Müller decided to move to

ETH Zurich (colloquially) , former_name = eidgenössische polytechnische Schule , image = ETHZ.JPG , image_size = , established = , type = Public , budget = CHF 1.896 billion (2021) , rector = Günther Dissertori , president = Joël Mesot , a ...

, Switzerland, Iken followed and she completed her PhD there in 1974. She subsequently took up a research position of her own at

and worked there for the rest of her scientific career.

Research

Iken's PhD research into the connection between basal water pressure and glacier motion demonstrated for the first time that velocity variations at White Glacier (

Axel Heiberg Island Axel Heiberg Island ( iu, ᐅᒥᖕᒪᑦ ᓄᓈᑦ, ) is an uninhabited island in the Qikiqtaaluk Region, Nunavut, Canada. Located in the Arctic Ocean, it is the 32nd largest island in the world and Canada's seventh largest island. Accordin ...

, Canadian Arctic) corresponded with variations in basal water pressure. This research was conducted using measurements of water pressure from moulins. She continued this work with further field experiments conducted at

Unteraargletscher The Unteraargletscher (), literally "Lower Aare-Glacier", is the larger of the two sources of the Aare river in the Bernese Alps. It emerges from the association of the Finsteraargletscher (near the Finsteraarhorn) and the Lauteraargletscher (ne ...

and Findel Glacier in the Swiss Alps. Eleven boreholes were drilled to the bed on Findel Glacier, which showed that surface velocity variations correlated with subglacial water pressure. Following her research on alpine glaciers, Iken shifted her focus to

Greenland Greenland ( kl, Kalaallit Nunaat, ; da, Grønland, ) is an island country in North America that is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Greenland is ...

to examine the dynamics of Jakobshavn Glacier, a fast-flowing glacier on the west coast. Several boreholes were drilled using a hot water drilling system to a depth of 1,600 m. After this, Iken revisited her research on Findel Glacier to investigate the meltwater drainage system structure of the glacier and glacier sliding. She concluded that the glacier's subglacial hydrology network evolved over the course of the melt season, which influences glacier sliding and corresponding surface velocity. In 2011 Iken was awarded the

award from the

for her contribution to the field of glaciology, noting that her findings have driven significant advances in glaciological research. Iken died in Bremen on 10 December 2018.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iken, Almut 1933 births 2018 deaths Heidelberg University alumni German glaciologists ETH Zurich alumni Academic staff of ETH Zurich McGill University alumni German women scientists Women glaciologists