ABSTRA CTAssess ing ri sks fr om potential glacier hazards in relation to safety cons iderations for settlements and other fixed installations in high mounta in areas requires the application of experi e nce gain ed fr om previous events, combined with s imple rules de rived fr om basic glaciological theory. The ge neral charac te risti cs of stee p, and usually un measured , glaciers can be estimated on the basis of a rough parame teri zation scheme. Variation s in glacie r length , ice avalanches, and gl ac ier flood s th en have to be considered for time pe ri ods ran g in g from a few years up to a few decades. As a res ult of such syste matic assessments, maps of po te nti all y dan ge rou s zo nes can be prepared. Although the inhabitants of man y Alpin e vill ages have always lived with the ri sk of gla c ie r ha zards, it now appears that modern constructi o n work , espec iall y that connected with the development of touri sm, has started to infiltrate previously avoid ed high-risk zon es more and more. In order to plan reasonabl e safet y measures, ri sks from glacier hazards have to be compar ed with th ose fr om oth e r natural hazards in mountain are as, suc h as s now a va lanch es , landslides , rock fall s, or sto rm-indu ced fl ood s. Decisions about th e acceptable le ve l of risk are diffi c ult and subj ective; they are al so oft e n influ enced by pol itical and econom ical consid erati o ns rath e r than by scie ntific reasoning.

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Assessing risks from potential glacier hazards in relation to safety considerations for settlements and other fixed installations in high mountain areas requires the application of experience gained from previous events, combined with simple rules derived from basic glaciological theory. The general characteristics of steep, and usually unmeasured, glaciers can be estimated on the basis of a rough parameterization scheme. Variations in glacier length, ice avalanches, and glacier floods then have to be considered for time periods ranging from a few years up to a few decades. As a result of such systematic assessments, maps of potentially dangerous zones can be prepared. Although the inhabitants of many Alpine villages have always lived with the risk of glacier hazards, it now appears that modern construction work, especially that connected with the development of tourism, has started to infiltrate previously avoided high-risk zones more and more. In order to plan reasonable safety measures, risks from glacier hazards have to be compared with those from other natural hazards in mountain areas, such as snow avalanches, landslides, rock falls! or storm-induced floods. Decisions about the acceptable level of risk are difficult and subjective; they are also often influenced by political and economical considerations rather than by scientific reasoning.

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Using an interference technique, the refractive index of both H(2)O and CO(2) films was determined at visible and near ir wavelengths as the gases were being condensed on a liquid nitrogen cooled surface. For these same films, the density was also measured. The results for the refractive index at a wavelength of 0.589 microm was 1.26 +/- 0.01 for H(2)O films and 1.43 +/- 0.01 for CO(2) films. The density of the H(2)O films was 0.81 +/- 0.02 g/cm(3), and for CO(2) films it was 1.67 +/- 0.03 g/cm(3).