172 Alaskan Science Conference 



a vigorous attack on problems in arctic geophysics with especial 

 emphasis upon the ionosphere, terrestrial magnetism, high fre- 

 quency long distance radio propagation, and zenith auroral 

 activity. This important program will be discussed in some 

 detail later in this paper. Following the entry of the United 

 States into World War II there was an increased activity in 

 arctic geophysical research. The program at the University 

 was enlarged by studies concerned with the deviation of radio 

 waves from a great circle course, examination of rapid fluctua- 

 tions in the earth's magnetic field, measurement of night sky 

 light, scattering of light by gases, and studies of refraction. 

 Seismological and magnetic work sponsored by the Coast and 

 Geodetic Survey was continued until 1948 when that agency 

 established its own permanent observatory on the University 

 campus. The expansion of the program from these beginnings 

 and the plans for the immediate future will also be discussed 

 later. 



The Polar Year 



An interest in auroral research by investigations from all 

 over the world developed rapidly following the recognition that 

 aurorae were closely associated with magnetic disturbances. 

 Early observers had noted disturbances of the magnetic needle 

 coincidental with auroral displays. By far the greater number 

 of the observations of the first part of the 20th Century had 

 been made in Norway by Carl Stormer and his colleagues. The 

 establishment in 1930 of a first order auroral station, almost 

 on the opposite of the pole, at College, Alaska, for the purpose 

 of obtaining information from another part of the globe was 

 highly fortunate. The work at this station had as its objective 

 the gathering of factual information on aurorae from the photo- 

 grammetric determinations of their form and position in space, 

 accompanied by systematic visual observations. This program 

 was initiated by a $10,000 grant from the Rockefeller Founda- 

 tion. Measurements on auroral heights extended from August 

 1930 to April 1932 and the results of visual observations to 

 December 1934. The measurements of auroral heights are all 



