ANTARCTIC WEATHER.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1925, Page 8

ANTARCTIC WEATHER.

INTERNATIONAL STUDY, OARTAIxY WILKINS’ SdSEMK. EXPLORATORiY EXPEDITION. An international scheme for the rfe. velopment of Antarctic meteorology ha, been projected by Captain G. Tf. Wilkins, who has had considerable experience of polar conditions, and has recently been engaged 'in the exploration of Northern Australia. His proposals were submitted to the Royal Meteorological Society of London and examined by a committee of that society which, In its report, stated:— “All meteorological information coming from the Antarctic would be extremely welcome as throwing light on many meteorological problems, especially on the general circulation of the atmosphere. In common with all scientific, knowledge, this information may ultimately prove of great economic value. We should bo prepared to encourage and support any undertaking which was adequately equipped with respect to apparatus and personnel for making scientific Investigations." TEN YEARS’ OBSERVATIONS. Th e scheme, as outlined by Captain Wilkins, proposes the establishment of seven fully-equipped observatories on th* edge of the Antarctic continent, and flv 8 sub-Antarctic stations on islands that are suitably placed. Each observatory would lai in daily communication with the neighbouring observatories, aud with one of three collecting stations at Melbourne, Capetown, or Buenos Aires. These stations, if maintained simultaneously and continuously for a period of 10 years, would give a great deal of information that may prove of inestimable value. The collecting stations at Melbourne. Capetown and Buenos Airea would each have four observatories under their control, and by means of wireless they would communicate their deduced information to the British Meteorological Office, London, where ft would be collated with meteorological information from other parts of the world. Three ships would In? required, and working from the three collecting stations, tlifey would carry supplies • and changes of staff to the Antarctic observatones, and at the same time collect biological information of importance to the whaling and fishing industry. Captain Wilkins also proposes that observing aeroplanes should be attached to the Antarctic stations. “Each c> f the pointe, except one, at which observatories might be suitably placed in the Antarctic, has been visited by explorers, and the other point is somewhere along the base of the Pacific Ocean, he says. “As a preliminary to the International scheme, I propose to explore the coastline from King Edward Land, south of New Zealand, to Graham’s Laud, south of Cape Horn, and, by using aeroplanes, demonstrate their usefulness in the Antarctic. I have planned to start from the Bay of Whales In the Ross Sea. and one aeroplane will carry a pilot, myself, and a survey camera, with which we will take a continuous strip of overl-pplng pictures, showing the coastline. At two or three suitable points we will descend and fix our position by means of astronomies’ observations.

FDJGiHT OF 1500 MILES.

“A second machine will carry a pilot and a supply of fuel, and, if it is necessary, the fuel from this machine will replenish the supply of the other machine, which will, in this case carry both pilots, leaving one aeroplane behind. The aeroplanes will have a flying speed of over a hundred miles an hour, and the distance to be covered may be aliont ISW) miles. If it were not for the need to stop and fix position of certain parts of tile coast it would be an easy and comfortable flight and occupy less than one day. At the end of the journey, near Graham’s Land, I expect to locate one of the forty odd whaling ships that visit this neighbourhood during the summer and with whose captains I spent some considerable time on my two previous trips to the Antarctic.

“I hope to leave the Ross Sea Ifl January of next year and to return with the whalers from Graham’s Land the following March. In the event of an aeroplane failure it is thought that it would not -to Impossible for men with experience to continue the journey on foot, living on the abundant'animal life that Is known to frequent the shores of the Antarctic, but in that case the journey might occupy three years. The south side of the Pacific is entirely unknown. We do not know whether Graham’s Land is an island or part of the outline of the Antarctic land mass, and at the same time furnish information of meteorological value and economic importance."

Captain Wilkins estimates the oost of the expedition at £15,000, and has issued an invitation to 30 men in Aust, ralia to advance £5OO each to enable an Australian to carry the Australian flag across the Polar-Pacific. He proposes subsequently to undertake a lecturing tour throughout the world in the interests of the proposed international meteorological scheme by means of which he expects to raise sufficient to repay the advances.