ANTARCTIC METEOROLOGY.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 639, 7 June 1921, Page 4

ANTARCTIC METEOROLOGY.

THE CAUSE OF THE SCOTT TRAGEDY. Dr. G. S. Simpson, who was with (lie Scott expedition to the South Foie as meteorologist, and has now been appointed Director of the Meteoroligical Office in London, lias been giving lectures on this particular subject. At the Royal Institution he addressed a few enthusiasts on the “Meteorology of the Antarctic/- and though his lantern views were mainly scales and numbers and temperatures. there was a certain romantic interest attached to these wavy lines made by the recording needles of thermometers and wind gauges. They recalled the terrible sufferings of that intrepid party of explorers who fought so gallantly but failed against the forces of Nature.

Dr Simpson, who was at M'Murdo Sound during the time the Scott party were making their journey to the Pole and returning, showed the diagrams of temperatures he had taken at the base during these summer months. But be also showed the diagrams of temperature taken by the members of the ill-iated party. “ There was something not only abnormal about that summer in the Antarctic," said the lecturer, “but there was something exceedingly abnormal. Scott had started on his journey expecting a wind behind him. to help him tc the Pole. He had expected a temperature of about minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit (or 12 degrees below freezing point), but what they had to endure was, at the end of February, minus 30 degrees, and at the end of March minus 40 degrees (or 72 degrees below freezing point). There was no wind in the first place, and to this is very largely due the fact that the temperature experienced throughout was 20 degrees below normal. There is no doubt this contributed very largely to the disaster.”

As a result of the experiments made at M’Murdo Sound it was found by means of balloons that in summer the temperature gradually and consistently decreased from the ground upwards, just as it does in the tropics or in any temperate climate. In winter, however, the ground temperature might be minus 0, but 700 metres in the air it was higher by 20 degrees. From that point upwards it gradually fell. This was owing to the fact that the heavy cold layer of air settled on the ground. With the coming of a strong wind or blizzard this layer would be swept away, and the ground temperature would rises uddenJ,/ as much as 20 degrees. Although it was summer when Scott and his party were coming away from the Pole, it was sufficiently late for the entire absence of wind to have the disastrous effect of keeping the temperature 20 degrees below what they rr/ght have expected had the air been

in motion. Dr Simpson showed how the temperature ranged in winter from north, to south on a given longtitude. Above the open see, which acted as • a reservoir for. the heat, the temj riualure might be 30 deg. (or only ; 2 dog. below freezing point). When they came to the broken ice it had fa Men as much as from 10 deg. to |2O deg.. Over the solid ice it was i at zero (or 32 dog. below freezing ! point), but immediately they stepj pod from the ice. over the sound on j to the Barrier the temperature fell | suddenly 10 deg., gradually railing 1 lower as they approached the Pole. I The lecturer had • something to say ]on the vagaries of the blizzards. In | the first place they' arc seldom consistent, and from the diagrams shewn they varied in speed from 12 miles one minute to 50 miles the next. But the strangest feature of these Antarctic winds is - that they may be blowing at 30 or 40 miles an hour, and suddenly there is a dead calm lasting perhaps for ten minutes. Then they start again in the same direction at exactly the same speed as they ceased ten minutes boot e. The reason for these u sudden cessations was answered by the therJ .momtors. As soon as the wind ceaI sod the temperature would fail as jj much as 20 deg. in a minute or less. | What had really, happened was that | a cold layer of air had forced its I way to Live and the wind without alteration in Its speed had | boon pushed up to a greater height, < jmu as a large smooth, stone tin own lint'* a ;;y, Tily moving stream would !• force the water over it. j