ROUND THE POLE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 14, 16 July 1931, Page 4

ROUND THE POLE

THE DISCOVERY'S CRUISE

ANTARCTIC OBSERVATIONS

For over an hour last night members of the technological section of. tlu Wellington Philosophical Society listened with much interest to what Mr. R.. Q. Simmers aad to say about the physical work of the Discovery Antarctic Expedition of 1930-81. Mr. Simmers was the meteorologist on. this and at the previous expedition.

The Discovery Expedition, he pointed out, was the first Antarctic expedition whoso sole aim was the study of marine lifo. Tho ship had to bo kept mobile in open water as no provision had been.made for a prolonged stay if sho'was frozen in. After describing the Discovery's course and tho coast line which she charted and claimed for Britain, Mr. Simmers detailed the work done by the physicists on board, work which was only a' small part of- that done by the twelve scientists. One result of the magnetic observations went to show that in the course of the last twenty years tho magnetic South Pole has. moved between 50 and 100 miles westward.

Mr. Simmers described how samples of water were-obtained from ocean depths1 by means of ingenious bottles which measured tho temperature of tho water and the depth at which the sample was taken. To take a sample at a depth of 4000 metres, the greatest depth attempted, took two hours. The temperature of the Antarctic waters averaged minus one degree Centigrade on the surf ace,, but at the depth, of 800 metres it was from two %6 three degrees ■•warmer, this layer being the warmer water flowing in , from the north. Below-that rdepthit. got colder again. '■ ■ • ■ ' "■ • '

The meteorplogicftl work included observations .as to. barometric; pressure, *air temperature, wind, cloud, visibility, blue of sky, and 'the weather 'in general.. The typo of the sea-swell and surface and: ieo conditions Avere-also studied. The accurate taking-'-of temperatures on board.was not easy owing to. the 'engines and other disturbing factors. Temperature' se'roens had' to be placed as far over the-edge of the ship as -possible, and..at; the top of the "masts. Antarctic temperatures in summer varied hardly two decrees right through the twenty-four hours, hence, when out of the wind/one did not feol the' c01d..-' '''■. "'" '■'. ■"" :' : ■ X

A most interesting, lecture, was trated with occasional-lantern slides, and at the conclusion of the discussion Mr. Simmers was accorded a hearty vote.of thanks. Dr. E. Kidson was1 in the chair. . . ■' : ■ :■