ANTARCTIC WEATHER

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28747, 19 November 1958, Page 20

ANTARCTIC WEATHER

Findings Of Scientists

Violent storms, in which warm marine air “jumps” over cold polar air. prevent Antarctic midwinter temperatures from falling as low as 320 degrees Fahrenheit below zero, according to senior scientists who have been reviewing United States International Geophysical Year investigations in the Antarctic. The present record low temperature is minus 125 degrees, registered at the Russian Costok I.G.Y. station lasi winter. The American Amundsen Scott station at the South Pole reported 102 degrees below zero. During a news conference at McMurdo Sound Dr. Harry Wexler. chief scientist for the American I.G.Y. Antarctic programme and director of meteorological research for the United States Weather Bureau, said the deep cyclones of the early Antarctic ! winter set up a compensating •action in the troposphere. The furious disturbances created by the contrast between the warm ocean air and a thin layer of very cold air prevented the temperatures falling to mid-winter . “loxks” in which human survival would be impossible. I G.Y. meteorological observations in the Antarctic would undoubtedly improve Southern Hemisphere weather forecasting and “will help us examine the weather on a truly world basis.” Dr. Wexler said The importance of glaciological (studies in the I.G.Y. programme was emphasised by Dr. Wexler He said that the Antarctic ice cap was 5d per cent, greater in volume than previous I.G.Y estimates ’ had indicated. i “There is enough ice in the 'Antarctic to cover every square foot of the earth to a thickness of 100 ft or to raise ocean levels

by 150 feet should it melt.” Dr .Wexler said. i Dr. John Tuzo Wilson, professor ‘of geophysics at the Universit> of Toronto, said the Antarctic ice sheet was the same kind thal once covered North America When the ice cover began to melt [in the northern United States and Canada, it did so with great rapidity. It went out in 2000 to 3000 years. If the Antarctic ice began to go out. melting would be comparatively swift. A conviction that, after the I G.Y.. American Antarctic research should give more attention to over-snow traverses, was expressed by Dr. Lloyd V. Berkner. past president of the International Council of Scientific Unions. ”We need to know the outline contours iof the snow surface above and the land surface below to dci terminc how much ice there is, I where it comes from, and where ‘it is going.” he said. ; Mr Alan Shaplcy. vice-chair-■jman of the United States I.GA i national committee, who is an i ionospheric physicist. revealed that a basic difference between ithe aurora of the Southern Hemiisphere and that of the north had been discovered. Whereas the ''aurora borealis were roughly cir’lcular. the aurora australis had a large “bump.” Mr Shaplcy also I reported that diurnal variations in the ionosphere had been observed at the Smith Pole during the winter, in spite of the absence of sunrise or sunset. • Waste Of Money” i ".A dreadful waste of public .! money.” was Hie description appiicd by Cr. V. G. Spiller to ! several publications formally received by the Riccarton Borough ’[ Council. The publications in>|eluded “The Later Years” (the, I October issue of the Care Jof the Aged Committee’s publication). "The Conservation of J Waterbirds and their Habitat ? !in New Zealand’’ (from the De‘i partment of Internal Affairs', and J Circular No. 80 of the Municipal i Association. When the Mayor (Mr !E. J. Bradshaw) asked whether I the council wanted a memoran!dum about hydatids prevention ’'from the National Hydatids Com'imittee read out. Cr. Spiller said: ? I "Into the wastepaper basket with tithe rest” The memorandum was jnot read. (It was filed.)