ANTARCTIC WEATHER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20300, 6 July 1929, Page 13

ANTARCTIC WEATHER.

INTENSITY OF THE COLD.

United Servico. NEW YORK, July 1. riJy Mr Russell Owen. Copyrighted 19'28 bv the New York Times Company. and the St. Louis Post Disputch. All rights for publication reserved throughout tlic world. Wireless to the New \ork limes.) BAY OP WHALES, July 3. The thermometer registered 64 degrees bolow zero last night before it began to rise and it was very cold, so cold in fact, that, standing outsido the entrance to the house tunnel without a hat to muffle the ears, the sound of one's breathing was plainly audible.

If one stood sideways to the wind so that the breath would blow past the leeward car there was a distinguishable faint "shislling" sound like snow blowing along a surface in a strong wind. There was a momentary interval botwcen tho expulsion of the breath and the sound, which intensified tho effect for there was no reason for believing that tho sound was caused by tho breath itself leaving the lips. One after another of those in the house went out to experiment and verify this amusing phenomenon but nobody lingered. Although it is possible to stand outsido without extra clothing for a few moments, the cold quickly eats through and nips tho nose, ears and fingers, driving one to a hasty retreat. There was a striking contract between the temperature inside and tho house and that outside. It was about 62 degrees nbovo in the house and 63 below out of doors. That one can undergo such a violent change in temperature even for a few moments without extra protection seems remarkable.

Tho cold caused somo interesting things to happen yesterday. It was found that a tin of kerosene *loft out in the snow tunnol near the entrance had frozen solid. It was brought into tho hut. In New York kerosene is used to prevent the radiators of motor-cars freezing.