COPE EXPEDITION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 21, 20 October 1920, Page 7

COPE EXPEDITION

ANTARCTIC METEOROLOGY ECONOMIC VALUE TO AUSTRALASIA It is the opinion of Captain G. 11. Wilkins, M.C., who has 'been appointed to the position of second in command of the Cope Antarctic Expedition, thut the enterprise will result in the collection of scientific data which will be of great value to Australasia. Captain Wilkins, who was in Melbourne recently, in discussing tho journey, said that the main object was scientific research. The South Pole had already been visited by Amundsen and Scott, and it was not until after two years of research work that any utlompt would bo made to reach the Pole. As portions of the expedition would be in constant wireioss communication with civilisation it was hoped that Australia. .South Africa, and South America would be materially assisted in "forecasting" the weather for months by the observations in tho Antarctic. The results to agriculturists should be of. Jtlitj greatest ' value. It was held by some scientists, said Captain Wilkins, that droughts, heat waves, frosts, and floods were intimately related to antecedent meteorological conditions far removed from the regions affected, and a comprehensive knowledge of simultaneous Antarctic conditions was consideijid absolutely necessary if the weather conditions of Australia were to be accurately predicted. The observations of previous explorers had alrea ly given a starting point for useful research, but Mich: data as had already been collected only proved the urgent need for more comprehousive which had been rendered possible by developments in aids to observation, such as tho aeroplane, wireless telephony, and sound ranges. So far as the Antarctic was concerned, with the exception of some observations by officials of the Argentine llepuolic, data had only been available from records of expeditions spending one or two seasons at intervals on the Antarctic continent or drifting in South Polar seas. Those records were quite inadequate to'give a proper picture of normal conditions. It was generally admitted that Australia would have to look to tho South Polar regions for an explanation of the great variations from year to year in rainfall and temperature. Even with such incomplete information as was already possessed it was possible to predict with comparative accuracy the probable seasonal rainfall of South America, the temperature of tho South African plateau, the jstensity of Indian monsoons, and the height of periodic floods, the forecasts being based on previous observations of atmospheric conditions in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic regions. The .probable seasonal conditions in Australia might also be anticipated if observatories were established in the Boss Sea area. With wireless communication, not only weekly predictions of comparative accuracy, but seasonal forecasts with practical certainty might be available. Most scientific investigations, and'particularly meteorological, had not appealed, said Captain AVilkins, lo practical men in the past; but accurate weather forecasts were really of the utmost importance. • At the present time, food- . producers could not afford to waste their labour, and any knowledge which would enable' them to' produce a greater quantity should be made available for them. A reliable forecast of temperature and percentage of cloud, was, for instance, of the utmost importance to those concerned with crops : depending upon the rise and fall of rivers. Even if tho cloud forms failed to precipitate, they . had a tremendous influence by then effect upon the surface temperature and evaporation. Weather signs could bo read and conditions successfully predioted. That was no longer a speculation but an established fact, proved V observed relations between conditions in South America and lower latitudes, which showed that the winter rains in Chile and the height of the rivers in the Argentine depended on the height of the barometer in the Southern Ocean. That some definite relation existed between tho weather conditions in M'Murdo Sonnd and Australia and New Zealand was suggested by the observations made bv Dr. Simpson on Scott's last rxpediti'oh. Thus 1903—the coldest year recorded at M'Murdo Sound—was a wet one in".New [ South Wales and Victoria, while in .'912, tho' highest mean temperature in M'Murdo Sound synchronised with a drought in Australia. In June, 1903, at the time when the highest mean pressure (relative to the normal) was recorded in M'Murdo Sound, Mr. H. A, Hunt, the Commonwealth meteorologist, in reporting upon the rainfall of Queensland for June, 1303, said:—"A little rain fell oyer tho southern districts, but totals were below the average generally." In, 1912. when the lowest mean nressure was rccordpd in M'Murdo Sound; Mr. Hunt again said, referring to Queensland:—-"Pheno-menal rain? fell, probably one of | the heaviest rains experienced in the t Stave. Totals were above the average throughout." Many other instances, concluded' Captain Wilkins, could be supplied to show the relation between Antarctic and Australian weather conditions, and if the scientists of the Copc_ expedition did nothing else but furnish a basis upon which the seasons in Australia could be predicted with accuracy, th« voyage would be worth while ( Commander J. L. Cope and other members of the expedition are at present, on their way to the South Seas in ihe whaling ship Thorone. A stop vj\\ be nvadp at Port Stanley. Falkland Islands, to take in sunplies, and it is there .that, Captain Wilkins. who is now on his way', to America, will join the expedition. From thp Falklands the l.arty will nroceed to the Antarctic continent, landing in the neighbourhood of Charcot Land. Two year? preliminary work will be spent' in traversing the coastline ;.-s far as Edward VTI Land, and as much geological, meteorolog'cal. and botanicnl work as possible will be carried out. Afterwards Captain Wilkins hopes to take pnrt in a ' dash by aeroplane to the South Pole.