ICE FLOES DRIFTING FURTHER THAN USUAL

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6947, 28 June 1929, Page 4

ICE FLOES DRIFTING FURTHER THAN USUAL

HEAVY RAIN PREDICTED. SYDNEY, June 13. Because of the influence of Antarctic ice floes, which have this year drifted several hundred miles furthtor northward than usual, Sir Douglas Mawson says that it is likely that Australia will have a very wet winter, and that Now Zealand will be affected likewise. In Sydney the rainfall so far has been beyond all requirements, and well above the average for many years past.

Sir Douglas Mawson, who has been to Britain to arrange for the expedition which at least two New Zealanders aro to join, returned to Adelaide on Saturday. ”1 believe that the work to be done on the Discovery ■ will be of great importance in. the study of climatic conditions in Australia and New Zealand,” he said. “For some time past attention has been directed to the probable bearing of Antarctic meteorology upon the rainfall conditions in Australia.

‘ 1 The importance of great outbursts of cold water and flowing ice from the polar regions upon the climate of lower latitudes is becoming recognised. The influence of the Arctic flow of cold water from the Greenland sea on the climate of Western Europe is now fully appreciated. I believe the same can be said of the Antarctic regions. Henceforth the recording of sea water temperatures at as many stations as possible in the Southern Ocean could be of importance in forecasting Australian weather.'

“During the last southern summer,” proceeded Sir Douglas, “there has been a strong movement of Antarctic ice northward, far beyond its usual limits, in the region south of tho mean longitude of the Indian Ocean. Ice floes since February have been drifting towards Australian longitudes, and must this year be a factor in the Australian climate. Judging by records of the past it is likely to be a year of good rainfall in Australia. The ice recorded near Kerguelen Island early in the year, should now have reached a position south of Western Australia. Ido not mean to say that the ice front is necessarily very close to Australia, but it will bo several hundred miles further north than usual. Tho ice should be somewhere south of Cape Leeuwin, and should be influencing climate here. We may have a very wot winter.”