SPITSBERGEN 609 



ditions found in so high a latitude. What, then, is the ex- 

 planation ? On further examination of the map the mind leaps 

 at once to that universal panacea for climatic anomalies — the 

 Gulf Stream. This explanation is partially correct. There is 

 no doubt that the Gulf Stream Drift or North Atlantic Drift is 

 responsible to a certain extent. This is borne out by the fact 

 that the west of Spitsbergen, on the whole, has a less severe 

 climate than the eastern part of the archipelago. However, 

 the oceanic nature of Spitsbergen, surrounded as it is in all 

 directions by extensive seas, is also responsible for the climate. 

 In addition to this, there are certain factors as yet unexplained. 



Spitsbergen, therefore, as the result of the combined effect 

 of the factors mentioned above, enjoys a similar climate to that 

 of Southern Greenland, Navaya Zemlya, and the northern 

 Asiatic coast, all of which are much further south. 



The climate may be divided into four seasons, although 

 these are not well defined. At the beginning of the year all 

 the country is covered in snow, and the coasts are icebound — the 

 temperature being on an average from — 20° to — 40° F. This 

 continues until May, when the temperature rises considerably. 

 In June, the spring month, the thaw sets in, and by July most 

 of the snow, at any rate in the lowlands, has disappeared. 

 During June, July, and August the weather is usually fine, 

 but may be overcast. The sun is up during the whole twenty- 

 four hours, and this makes the summer, although short, very 

 favourable to life and growth. In September gales commence, 

 accompanied by snow, and these continue throughout Sep- 

 tember and October, this period constituting the autumn. The 

 winter then follows with its continuous darkness and extremely 

 low temperature. 



The severe climate, with its frosts and gales in autumn and 

 winter, and the erosive action of the snow-water in spring 

 and summer, have their usual effect. Erosion is very rapid 

 and proceeds along the usual Arctic and Alpine lines. Aiguilles, 

 screes, and other frost effects are common. In addition to this, 

 however, there is ice action, and this is extremely important. 

 Glaciers abound, especially in the northern part of the archi- 

 pelago, where they generally form sea fronts as in Greenland. 

 There is, on the other hand, very little real inland ice, except 

 in New Friesland and North-East Land. 



The result of these erosive agents is the production of a 

 very complicated physiography. As a general rule the interior 

 of Spitsbergen consists of a complex of mountain ranges, the 

 valleys between which are occupied by glaciers. This is 

 enhanced by the many fjords and sounds which penetrate into 

 the heart of the archipelago, and which almost divide West 

 Spitsbergen (the main island) into several parts. 



