EFFECT OF ICE FLOES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 22 June 1929, Page 14

EFFECT OF ICE FLOES.

HEAVY RAIN PREDICTED. SIR DOUGLAS .MAWSON'S VIEWS. [from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY, June 13. Because of the influence of Antarctic ice floes, which have this year drifted several hundred miles further northward than usual, Sir Douglas Mawson says that it is likely that Australia will have a very wet winter,- and that New Zeriend will be affected likewise. In Sydney the rainfall so far has been beyond all require; ments, and well above the average for many years past.

Sir Douglas Mawson, who has been to Britain to arrange for tho expedition which at least two New Zealanders are to join, returned to Adelaide on Saturday. "I believe that the work to be done on the Discovery will be of great importance in tho 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.

"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 outflow of cgld water from the Greenland sea on the climate of Western Europe is now. fully appreciated. I believe the same can bo 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 the mean longitude of the Indian Ocean. Ice floes since February have been drifting toward 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. I do not mean to say the ice front is necessarily very close to Australia, but it will be several hundred miles further north than usual. The ice should bo somewhere south of Cape Leeuwin, and should be influencing climate here. We may have a very wet winter."