Hill. — Problems of Arctic Exploration. 395' 



I have not Dr. Nansen's " Journey across Greenland " 

 at hand, but I do not remember any reference made to rain 

 in his remarkable journey. Snow-storms were not uncommon, 

 but of rain there was none. 



I have purposely quoted these facts to show that the 

 climatic conditions as tested by different travellers go to 

 prove how small must be the benefits derived by the cold 

 zones from either the torrid or temperate, by means of 

 currents and winds. 



The water of the torrid zone is of an average temperature 

 of 80°, and this is maintained directly from the solar heat 

 received. Of the solar rays which reach the earth most of 

 them are used to maintain the temperature of the zone — in 

 fact, the heat of each zone may be said to be directly pro- 

 portional to the number of heat-rays received by the zone, 

 just as the amount of aqueous vapour in each zone is pro- 

 portional to the temperature, other things being equal. The 

 conditions which seemingly exist within the polar area are 

 opposite to the conditions which prevail in warmer areas. 

 The surface-water or ice is colder than the stratum immedi- 

 ately underneath, and it seems that the movement would be 

 downward with a southerly tendency, and that this form of 

 motion is necessitated by the fact that the incoming waters, 

 instead of being heated, are actually cooled as they move pole- 

 ward, whilst the several strata of underlying waters are forced 

 to move southward awry to supply the place of the lower 

 areas which are constantly moving towards the equatorial 

 regions. In the same way the atmosphere within the polar 

 area is very unlike that within the warm zones. The air is 

 dry mostly, as the temperature is not sufficient to maintain 

 much vapour. But dry air is very diathermanous, and heat is 

 transmitted through it with little or no alteration of tempera- 

 ture. Here we have physical differences existing in the warm 

 and cold zones, and these differences are such that they re- 

 quire the closest attention at the hands of scientists. 



As to temperature, direction of winds, the existence of 

 animal life, the possibility even of living in the air under the 

 conditions proposed by Andree, very little is known. Neither 

 Nansen nor Andree, I am afraid, will reach the pole, at least 

 if the conditions such as I have suggested above actually 

 exist within the polar area. But, whatever may be the 

 results of Andree' s enterprise, there can only be one wish for 

 the brave men who have started on such a romantic and 

 hazardous voyage. They carry their lives in their hands, for 

 they may be stranded on ice-fields, with no power of getting 

 rid of their difficulties. With dogs, sledges, and snow-shoes 

 Nansen was able to cross Greenland, but he was sure of ice 

 or land for his journey. Andree and his companions have no 



