Geophysical Institute-Alaska University— Wilson 193 



Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories, the National Bu- 

 reau of Standards and the Signal Corps. 



Future Work 



Long term plans call for a well-organized general program of 

 research under the guidance of the administration and staff 

 of the University of Alaska and the Geophysical Institute. This 

 should involve studies over the entire range of subject matter 

 recognized by the American Geophysical Union as being within 

 the realm of basic geophysics, i.e., investigations in the eight 

 general areas of Terrestrial Electricity and Magnetism, Seis- 

 mology, Oceanography, Meteorology, Geodesy, Hydrology, Vol- 

 canology and Tectonophysics, and also in the related fields of 

 Astronomy, Astrophysics, Geology, Geography and Radio- 

 physics. Work in applied geophysics though not the direct 

 mission of the Geophysical Institute should not be entirely 

 omitted as it is one of the outcomes of basic research. For the 

 near future several specific programs and projects are planned, 

 those nearest actual inception are described briefly herewith. 



High Altitude Observatory 



Some of the highest peaks in the Americas are within Alaska. 

 Alaska lies in the region of high geomagnetic latitude. It is 

 crossed by the auroral zone. This makes an ideal situation for 

 certain studies at high altitudes including cosmic radiation, the 

 aurora above the dense lower atmosphere, other terrestrial and 

 extra terrestrial radiations at the same altitude and high alti- 

 tude meteorology. The work on cosmic radiation may reveal 

 much that will supplement existing knowledge of it and auroral 

 phenomena. More definite knowledge of the nature of the 

 particles existing at high altitudes, their energies and direc- 

 tion of travel may reveal much as to the origin of particles 

 coming into the earth's atmosphere. Definite observations 

 over a long period of time are necessary to supplement the 

 short time observations of balloons, aircraft and rockets. Work 

 at sea level and in mines on cosmic radiation may also be 

 conducted. 



