Antarctic Crossing A Year’s Work Needed To Assess Observations

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28528, 6 March 1958, Page 10

Antarctic Crossing A Year’s Work Needed To Assess Observations

(New Zealand Press Association) SCOTT BASE, March 5. Properly assessed scientific results from the Commonwealth trans-Antarctic expedition cannot be expected to begin to appear until a year or more after the return of the party to the United Kingdom, Sir Vivian Fuchs said today. “Naturally, proper assessment and publication take an appreciable time,” he said.

Sir Vivian Fuchs mentioned that some results from Scott’s last expedition had appeared only about three years ago. He said that it was probable that the expedition would publish its own series of scientific results in full. He hoped that, in addition, various specialist publications would accept shorter versions. In this way, the results would reach specialists in all parts of the world. “Where any International Geophysical Year organisation is interested in particular matters, expedition material will naturally be made available to them,’’ he said. “But even to do this some time must elapse before the material is in proper order.” Sir Vivian Fuchs said that apart from geology and physiology, the subjects studied were maintained throughout the traverse of the continent. “The studies should therefore reveal a broad outline in various fields which will assist in the generaL interpretation of the area when taken in conjunction with the work already being done during I.G.Y. and work which will be done later.” Sir Vivian Fuchs pointed out that the greater part of the journey across the continent was over terrain never previously explored. Assignment of Work Only three of the men in the crossing party were not directly concerned with science. They were Roy Homard, vehicle maintenance; George Lowe, photography; and ’Ralph Lenton, radio, who had their particular tasks although they were constantly helping the others. . David Pratt was principally concerned with the vehicles put he also carried out friction measurements. Surveying was done by David Stratton and Ken Blaiklock. They were flown into the Shackleton Mountains last spring while the vehicles making their first thrust to South

The only new mountain areas

discovered by the expedition were found within 250 miles of the Weddell Sea, said Sir Vivian Fuchs. Survey work was carried out in two mountain ranges—the Theron mountains and the Shackleton range—and one group of nunataks—the Whichaway Nunataks. Geological observations were carried out at the same time. Sir Vivian Fuchs, himself a geologist, was hdavily involved with other expedition business and left this side of the scientile studies almost entirely to Jon Stephenson. “Fortunately, there wa» sufficient fossil material to give some indication of the age of the rocks,” said Sir Vivian Fuchs, “for example, it seems that the coals found in the Theron Mountains are of similar age to the Ecca coals of South Africa. “It is hoped that a study of the geological material will reveal whether the rocks of this area are similar to those found in Queen Maude Land, and it will be interesting to make comparisons with the studies which an American party made in another group of new mountains found 120 miles west of the Shackleton Mountains.’ Sir Vivian Fuchs said geology was not carried out by his team on the Ross Sea side of the continent because this had already been done by the New Zealand party.

Physiologist’s Work Physiological experiments were done not only on the crossing, but also during the winter at Shackleton Base. Dr. Allan Rogers, the physiologist with the main party, made investigations which included a study of sleep rhythm. In one period of a week—24 hours a day for seven days—Dr. Rogers started a subject for energy balance. measuring food intake, oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. Dr. Rogers worked on “tick over” tests. These were a measure of the rate at which the body was “ticking over” during standard minimal exercise. He studied all facets of acclimatisation to cold, investigating the body changes as they came about Almost 400 samples of breathed air will be taken back to England by Dr. Rogers for farther study. Geoffrey Pratt was in charge of the seismological work. His results show a number of montain ranges running under the Polar Plateau. It was found that the elevation of the land varied between 1000 ft and 7000 ft above sea level. The results of the seismie soundings were assisted by the far more frequent gravimetric observations which will ultimately allow interpretation of the areas between the seismic shots.. Hal Lister’s glaciolQgical studies revealed that the .temperature of the ice beneath the surface taken at the same depth during the traverse was colder in the interior of the Antarctic than near the coast. The Pole appeared to have the coldest average annual temperature. Hannes La Grange carried out his meteorological observations every three hours, a task taking 15 minutes. The results were sent out on .the next radio schedule for onward transmission to Little America which is “Weather Central” for Antarctica. His work included radiation measurements and the study of the winds, some of the behaviour of which was revealed by the direction and appearance of the sastrugi. During the crossing. Sir Vivian Fuchs said, it was only possible to take altitude from the readings of aneroid barometers. As some of the results—in particular the gravity readings—depended on accurate altitudes it would be necessary to correct these readings later when it was possible to relate them to the 850-miiibar level. This was only possible when the accumulated results of the I.G.Y. from all over the continent were available, he said.