POLES & WEATHER

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 50, 28 August 1934, Page 10

POLES & WEATHER

NORWAY AS PIONEER

STEFANSSON'S STRAIT

WHAT 18 BEYOND IT ?

Professor Sir Edgeworth David, in a statement in Sydney on August 6, emphasised the far-reaching nature of Sir Hubert Wilkins's plan for long-range weather forecasts, and their importance for such countries as Australia.

"The further expedition of Sir Hubert Wilkins to the Antarctic with Ellsworth in the ship-Wyatt Earp," lie said, "has a twofold object. First is the aim, after establishing a base at the volcanic island, Deception, on the American side of the Antarctic, to fly in a well-tested aeroplane—damaged in the Antarctic last year, but now thoroughly repaired—across the whole of the Antarctic Continent. This great land —about twice tho area of Australia, as it totals more than 5,000,000 square miles—is the largest area of tho world a,t present unknown. THE ARCTIC ANDES. "It is known that, from the Australian end of the Antarctic, there is a great range of mountains —the Antarctic Andes—rising to heights of from 10,000 ft to 15,000 ft, and passing a little to the east of the South Pole itself. On the American side of the Antarctic, extending southwards from Graham's Land, arc high mountains stretching southwards to an unknown distance. "Sir Hubert Wilkins, in previous aerial flights, demonstrated that this latter range is cut off.by an important strait—Stcfansson's Strait—from tho main Antarctic continent. At present, however, geographers have no knowledge- as to what becomes of those two great ranges of mountains in the area between Stefansson's Strait and the South Pole. It is hoped that. Ellsworth's contemplated flight, together with photographs that will bo taken, will finally settle this problem, and also clear up the question whether the' Antarctic continent itself, as some have maintained, is divided into two portions by an important marine strait extending under the ice from Ross Sea to Wnddcll Sea." . "The second objective—by far the more important for the advancement of world science—is the scheme to which Sir Hubert Wilkins is now directing his best efforts, that of furthering the great world-wide project of establishing permanent meteorological observing stations at.either Pole. NORWAY'S WAR LESSON. "The great'importance of a knowledge of Polar meteorological conditions for tho prediction of weather in temperate and even sub-tropical latitudes was emphasised to an extraordinary extent during the late war, particularly in tho case of Norway. That country, during the war, was cut off from meteorological data obtained by countries lying to the south of it, and so it had to rely chiefly on what could be learned fronr time to time of weather conditions in the sub-Arctic and the Arctic. These intensive ' studies of Polar weather conditions emphasise tho extreme importance of their influence on weather conditions even far south,' and they led to the development'of what is now known1 as the Polar Front. "After the war, the interest of meteorologists generally in the .Northern Hemisphere was greatly simulated by tho important results obtained by Norwegian meteorologists from the stud}of Arctic weather conditions. Now, as the result of many years of effort no fewer than ' twenty mctorological stations recording daily observations have been established in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. The results have been so encouraging that it is proposed immediately to add five more stations, and Sir Hubert Wilkins hopes that, within a few years, tho number of North Polar observing meteorological stations will number no fewer than 32. "When in the Arctic in his submarine, Sir Hubert Wilkins waa ablo to collect continuous meteorological data. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that he was able, by means of tho echosounding apparatus on the submarine, to establish definitely, for every mile or so, the absolute depth of the bottom of the Arctic Ocean. His great aim now is to try to establish for the South Polar area a series of. permanent observing meteorological stations analogous to those already installed in the Polar region. A CHAIN OF STATIONS. "In consultation during the last few days with Sir Douglas Mawson, Sir David Orme Masson, and myself, ho has been detailing his suggestions for the carrying out of this great scheme for the Southern Hemisphere. He suggests that observing stations should be tablished at St. Paul, Amsterdam, Kerguelen, and Heard Islands, and at Macßobertson Land. He also hopes to have additional stations to the west of. Maeßobertson Land, beyoud Enderby Land, in the area lately annexed by Norway, and also to the east of Macßobertson Land, on Adelio Land, that would make,: in all, seven observing stations at the commencement. It would obviously be important also to have observing stations both on Graham's Land and in the Eoss Sea area at the extreme eastern end of tho Australian portion of the Antarctic. Such stations would be in wireless communication, not only with oue another, but right across the world, with the Arctic meteorological stations. "On his recent journey to Australia, Sir Hubert Wilkins has consulted the authorities in British India and South Africa, and both Governments, are willing to contribute financially to the development of any well-thought-out scheme of South Polar meteorological stations. Sir Hubert Wilkins believes also that the Argentine, Chilean, and other South American Governments would fall into line. Ho is hoping, of course, that Australia and New Zealand will join in this far-reach-ing scheme for a greater efficiency in long-range, weather forecasts, on the success' of which, to such a groat extent, depends the commercial prosperity of the world."1

Sir Hubert Wilkins was the guest of Sir Edgeworth David at luncheon at the "University Club.1 Others present included the Chancellor of the University of Sydney , (Sir William Cullen), the Commonwealth Official War Historian (Dr. Bean), and Father O'Leary, of Biverview Observatory.