266 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



peditions, including that of Dr. Hall. The conclusions reach- 

 ed from a consideration of the thermal and hygrometric con- 

 dition of the winds, as well as of the distribution of temper- 

 ature in the arctic regions, are summed up as follows: 1. 

 The longitudinal axis of the arctic land-system (which most 

 probably consists of islands separated by narrow arms of 

 the sea, perhaps only fiords) passes over the mathematical 

 pole, and Greenland, therefore, north of Shannon Island, does 

 not trend toward the northwest, but up to 83 or 84 of lat- 

 itude extends in a northerly direction, and then in a north- 

 northeasterly or northeasterly direction. 2. The coast of 

 this arctic land-system will therefore be met between 25 

 and 170 of longitude east of Greenwich, at an average lati- 

 tude of 84 to 85, and the west coast between 90 and 170 

 west from Greenwich, at a latitude varying between 86 and 

 80. 3. Robeson Channel, which suddenly extends north of 

 latitude 82 16', curves at 84 of latitude, while still widen- 

 ing, sharply toward the west ; and hence Smith Sound stands 

 in continuous open connection with Behring Strait. Grin- 

 nel Land is therefore an island that probably stretches as 

 far as 95 west from Greenwich, and the Parry Islands fill 

 the sea toward the south, westward of Jones Sound. 4. 

 The sea between the coast of the arctic land and the north 

 coast of America is penetrated by a branch of the warm 

 drift-current of Kuro Siwo passing through Behring Strait, 

 and reaching as far as Smith Sound, and it is therefore at 

 times and in places free fro,m ice. 5. The Gulf Stream, flow- 

 ing northward between Bear Island and Nova Zembla, wash- 

 es the north coast of the continent of Asia, and unites on the 

 east of the new Siberian Islands with the western branch of 

 the Gulf Stream, flowing northward alon^ the west coast of 

 Spitzbergen, passes beneath the polar current to the north 

 of the Seven Islands, and comes to the surface airain at a 

 higher latitude, and washes the coast of the arctic land, the 

 climate of which is consequently affected on both sides by a 

 temporarily open sea, and the formation of perpetual ice and 

 extremes of cold are therefore altogether impossible. 6. The 

 average elevation of polar land above the level of the sea 

 diminishes toward the pole. 7. The sea between Spitzber- 

 gen and Nova Zembla up to Behring Strait is free from ice, 

 in places even in winter, and is navigable in the fall and 



