SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION TO THE SOUTH SEAS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1450, 25 March 1873, Page 2

SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION TO THE SOUTH SEAS.

One of her Majesty's ships, the- Challenger, has sailed on a most important scientific expedition \to the South SeasJ The temperature of the sea at the surface and at different depths, the specific gravity of the surface and the j b6ttom water ; the nature of the bottom to be determined; by the use of a sounding, instrument which brings up small samples, Yor by a haul of the dredge which brings up a , quantity in bulk ; the nature of the gases contained- in the watejj, and' the .amount and nature of their salts and organic j matters : ' these, are among the physical observations to/ which attention -will be paid during the expedition. Abpye all/ the depth of the ocean, is to be determined whenever Bounding is practicable. More information is wanted as to the mountain system at the bottom of the ocean ; it would be of' great interest to ascertain and map out the chief ranges of submarine. mountains as well as those on

dry land. Mr Siemens apparatus for determining the temperature and the light of the ocean depths is on board, and will be tested during the voyage. Then, the set of surface currents and undercurrents must be examined. In the Southern Ocean means will be adopted to test the existence of what has been described as "a general southerly" set of oceanic water. In -thet neighborhood of the Azores, which arem the line of the glaciaV flow from North Polar channel, an attempt will be made to ascertain whether there is any-underflow of water from either. Polar basin towards the equator. Tidal observations will be regularly made; .faots will be gathered bearing on the interesting question of the elevation or subsidence of land ; and besides the measurement of storm waves — a service, not. to be expected, frpm the scientific staff at the commencement of their cruise— these ■. gentlemen are requested, by the Circumnavigation Committee to note, carefully any waves attributable to earthquakes, should they have the extreme good fortune (from a scientific point of., rim): too, come well within the. range of. one, of these convulsions of Nature!, 'i.; The chemist is expected to analyse the' sea-water brought from the surface and- fronLvarions depths, to determine its constituents and "the volume of gases it contains. The botanist of the Challenger will come upon novel and rich fields, both insular and continental. Hardly a point will be touched but the cry is for : "more" information ; and many places are .described as, botanically, quite unknown;; .What 'part is played in the distribution of plants by ocean drifts and what by icebergs ? At the Antarctic Ice Barrier there may be opportunities for examining the vegetation, if any, upon these rather unpleasant neigh* borsatsea^. The photographer;, wUl take portraits of natives .wherever these can be got, and the collection thus obtained will certainly not be . the least interesting to the less scientific public at home.' While the scientific staff are thus employed, the officers of the ship will! hive ' upon their hands work of extreme imnoftanoe. an 4 value in najal surveying at tbosfe parts ftf ■thY globe whiph are seldom visited, land have not been accurately noticed oiTthe charts. It. is even possible that some islands may be discovered which are not marked at all iii ; the map. The commander, Mr Mttc'lear, will have under his charge the magnetic observations; and no doubt the scientific staff will at all times 'find 1 valuable Coadjutors in the officers of the ship.;. Sever, it is admitted, has a scientific expedition. been' sent out from any country so completely equipped $ and one cannot help con|rq«ting itwi^ the fixpeditjon !jt % Kje.qs fil Tjfoicti Gjap,t. @ook sailed in 1772, just a hundred years ago, .'His ships-^theindeavoiir, the Be* solution, and the Discovery, small and roughly found-^-rwould amount: altogether to a smaller tonnage than:the Challenger j and its engines of 400 i horse ; power, it donkey engines on deck for haulage, i: : steam launch : 34ft , long,. and the perfection of modern! scientific apparatus with which this fine vessel ia fitted, ,ao heighten the contrast ,astlto : amaze one - that the great circumnavigater , could have done sq inueh witrwlft rntfg W«s c fo A lq JlDtle, .-. '.r.-r -.■f.-f;;..,:-;..;,, „. .