Climatic discoveries

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33777, 25 February 1975, Page 11

Climatic discoveries

New Zealand scientists in the Antarctic have made discoveries about the effect of the continent on the world climate. They believe that the! information will allow them i to forecast changes in the' climate more accurately. There are indications that> some changes have occurred in the space of tens of years! — not hundreds, thousands., or millions of years, as pre-! viously thought'

They say that any rapid change in climate could have : serious consequences for mankind. The superintendent of the ■ Antarctic Division of the Department of Scientific and I Industrial Research (Mr R. 18. Thompson) touched on the subject yesterday during the subject on Wednesday during a press conference. BUSIEST SEASON Twenty-two field events ;made the 1974-75 research programme the biggest during New Zealand’s 18 years

iof permanent occupancy in The Antarctic, said Mr 'Thompson, In all, 140 people worked! at Scott Base and in the! ’Ross Dependency — the, I largest number to visit the Antarctic on New Zealandsponsored programmes in a season. Thirty New Zealanders took part in two important international projects — drilling at Dry Valley and the Mount Erebus expedition. The activities stretched ; transport, accommodation, and field equipment to the limit. New Zealand would be un- ; likely to have such a big programme in the next few years. AIRCRAFT SHORTAGE The loss of two United States Hercules aircraft during the season meant that transport would be limited for the next two years, and it was unlikely New Zealand would take part in two big international projects at the same time. All the activities this season had been highly successful, said Mr Thompson. In the next few months [interesting scientific coni elusions would be drawn 1 from the work, providing . much fresh information about the Antarctic, particularly with regard to climate. Work accomplished during the season ranged from vulcanology to the maintenance of historic huts, he said.