IN THE ANTARCTIC

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 499, 31 October 1928, Page 6

IN THE ANTARCTIC

A night of four months’ duration would seem extraordinary to. us if it were to occur in this country, but it is a regular occurrence in the Antarctic winter, which lasts from the middle of April to the middle of August. This long night, however, is not one of continuous darkness. The winter begins in an April twilight, with the sinking sun colouring ice fire-red, and summer returns as a roseate autumnal dawn. Bad weather periods are usually associated with the changes of the moon. When there are calm periods during full moon the reflection of the light against the white snow makes everything of crystalline brightness, but these calm periods are by no means common. Another remarkable light effect is that of the Aurora Australis, which illumines the whole sky with great curtains of dancing light. The light runs across the heavens in enormous arches of ever-changing hues. The colours range from the most delicate apple green to a deep golden yellow, with a great number of quite perceptible variations, so delicate as to be almost infinitesimal. Auroral displays are always accompanied by magnetic disturbances, and are almost invariably associated with storms, in which the icy wind beats against everything, and the snow falls penetratingly, relentlessly. It never rains in the Antarctic.