AIRSHIP VENTURE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 102, 2 May 1930, Page 8

AIRSHIP VENTURE

NORTH POLAR CRUISE

THE "GRAF ZEPPELIN"

By Dr. Pridtjof Nansen. (Copyright.) Our plan, is to start from a last European station in northern Norway, cither South-Vai'anger, Kirkenes, or probably Tro'mso, to travel across the Arctic regions on tho Greenland-Ame-rican side of the Pole to Fairbanks in Alaska, where a station with mooringmast, etc., is being prepared. In Fairbanks, the airship will be filled up with .the necessary gas, etc., and will make a trip back into the inner part of the unknown Arctic towards tho Polo and return to Fairbanks. When the sl\ip has then been filled up with gas for a second time, it will start on its homeward journey across the Arctic region on the Siberian, sido of the Pole, and after having, .among other things, surveyed the unknown Nicolas 11. Land, or North Land, it will return to its starting station in liorthem Norway, and then go back to its homo in Friedrichshafeu. , The proposed routes of the airship are between 5200 and 7200 kilometres. The radius of action of the airship is about 12,000 kilomotrcs. Thus there is a good margin. If this plan can bo carried out, the expedition will practically cover tho whole of the still unknown parts of tho Arctic regions. During the cruises observations gl various kinds will be 'carried out.' "Ml little-known or unknown lands and islands will naturally be surveyed and mapped by exact photogrammatic methods. The depths of the sea crossed will be determined by a specially constructed echo-sound-ing apparatus, which can be used from the ship in the air without landing on the ice, wherever there is a channel or lano of open water. The apparatus attached to a cable will be lowered into the water, and a sounding will bo taken. In this manner it is hoped that tho expedition may bo able to determine in its main features tho extent and shapo of the deep Polar Basin, discovered during the Fram expedition in 1893-1896, and it may thus bo possible to determine the edge of tho broad continental shelf surrounding this basin. It is thus to be hoped that tho expedition may be able to solve finally the chief geographical problems still remaining in the frozen North. It is also hoped that, especially on the second trip, it may.be possible to land on the ice and to take a series of ■ deep-sea temperatures and water samples down to 2000- metres from tho eastern unknown depths of tho Arctic Basin. But, in addition to this, other observations will bo made. It is intended to make investigations of the higher layers of tho. atmosphere, and especially to determine tho height and nature- of tho boundary between the troposphere and.stratosphere. Magnetic observations of importance in theso unknown regions will bo made; investigations, of-tho electricity of the atmosphere and other observations will also be carried out. Thus an important foundation may be laid for the- future methodical Scientific exploration of the Arctic. regions, but of special importanco may probably bo the' experience gained during this expedition as to the future use- -of aircraft for scientific research. ' . i>K. HUGO ECKENEK. It is hoped that Dr. Hugo Eckcner will be ablo to take tbo technical leadership of tho airship. Tho various preparations for the expedition, are being carried out^ under tho supervision, of special, commissions .consisting of prominent experts of. world fa,mo and of various nationalities, and' special instruments are being constructed 'for the investigations. I have already mentioned that a special apparatus for echo-sounding is being built, and will be carefully tested before the start of the expedition. Experiments have already been made with magnotic observations on board the airship, ana have proved very successful. Special magnetic instruments aro now being con.structed. New inventions ,■ of instruments for the observation in the- higher parts of the atmosphere are being tried. An apparatus for transferring weathercharts by picture-radio, and a radiotelegraphic long and short wave apparatus is being prepared, etc.' Emergency equipment with slodges, kayaks, sledge- dogs,' and provisions, for niiacty days is being prepared for tho possibility that the members of the expedition may have to leave tho airship and travel across the ice to land. For the station iv Alaska the.American War Office is willing to lend the expedition 5000 steel cylinders for fuel gas, which will have to be transported to Fairbanks after having been filled. The foundations for the mooring-niast will'also shortly be made in; Fairbanks, where.a plant for' developing hydrogen will have to, be established. In a similar way the station in northern Norway will soon bo, arranged. A mooring mast will have to be erected there, and about 2500 bottles with gas will have to ■be transferred thither. • A very important point for the expedition is a well-prepared co-operation of the various meteorological radio stations of the various nations in the Arctic. The Norwegian stations have already been mentioned. Vory important in this re.spect is, of course, the' wide Arctic 'region of the Russian Soviet Union. Tho Soviet Government has appointed a special Government Commission under the leadership of tho People's .Commissary, KemenefE, and they have promised to; equip all meteorological station's on ■ tho territory of the Soviet TTnion north of 60 degrees • north latitude' with special/ instruments for the purpose, and to provide~tho radio stations at Matoch-kin-Char," on Great Liakhov" Island, and at • Strednc Kolymak with radio apparatus for the navigation of 'the' airship,, and also to equip several stations with'short-wave and picture-radio apparatus. It is also hoped to obtain the co-operation of tho Danish meteorological radio stations on Iceland and Greenland. Likewise, it will be of the greatest importance to secure the co-' operation of the meteorological stations in Canada and in Alaska, by arrangement with; the Canadian and the American ..Governments,. ..