ARCTOWSKI, CHANGES IN DISTRIBUTION OF TEMPERATURE 109 



The fourth question, ^'What are the connections between the conti- 

 nental variations and those observed in the Arctic regions?" can best be 

 .answered— with the maps on hand — by saying that the north polar annual 

 temperature changes form, probably, an intrinsic part of those occurring 

 in Europe, Siberia and North America. The ice-covered Arctic Ocean 

 •connects Nowaya Zembla and the Siberian shores with Arctic America 

 into one immense continental area. On this area, pleions and antipleions 

 •are formed and conjugate into one system. 



The question, "Do the Arctic ice conditions influence the annual tem- 

 peratures observed in Europe and North America?" ought ther.efore be 

 reversed into the question, "How do the pleionian — or let us say the 



Fig. 60. — Temperature curves at St. Helena, Arequipa, Porto Rico and Bermuda 



Arequipa variations — influence the ice conditions?" This is a very wide 

 subject, about which much might be said. 



Air temperature is only one of the factors influencing the drift of polar 

 ice. Ocean currents, and especially the winds, are more important factors 

 than temperature. It is very well known that in the Arctic, as well as in 

 the Antarctic, the ice conditions of certain regions may vary considerably 

 one year from another and, from the knowledge gained in the North 

 American archipelago — the Northwest Passage in particular — we must 

 infer the existence of long-range or even secular variations. 



The quantity of icebergs drifting down into the path of the transat- 

 lantic ocean steamers also varies considerably. The same may be said 

 about the Antarctic. 



