LATITUDE CHANGES

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1933, Page 6

LATITUDE CHANGES

NORTH AND SOUTH DOLES MOVE

EFFECT OF SHIFTING ICE

-SYDNEY, July 17,

Observations' taken . over ,year s give slight Variation,; in the latitude of Sydney and other specific points, and science has determined in 'recent years that both the poles -warader- about a little. I;

Dr Hisbasbd Ivimura. mcin'bfv of the Japanese Imperial Academy and Director of the Mizusawa International 'Latitude Observatory, has nude thi s variar t-jon of latitude lvis special study. He reached Sydney to-«ay in the Atsuta Mara on Ills' way t'o the Adelaide Observatory to confer with the (Government Astronomer, in South Austrnl'a. (:Mr Dodwell), who is taking part .in the observations of the determination of latitude Variation. Dr Kim lira will later go to the United 'States for .further conferences.

The poles, it has been found, wander a few yards in something of a circle, returning to the same point in one per : txl of 365 quarter days end -in another of -approximately 423 days. This swaying is probably caused by the sbiftiing about, of masses on the earth, such as ice changes and the denudation of the earth with the, . removal of matter from the -mountains into the sen. The .action of the moon end the rum are also factors. In determining star positions, it i-s essontnl t]>at a- 1 correction be made for this variation. This’is" , 'knbwn‘ n« the Kirn urn. correction.