THEORETICAL DISCUSSION. 



259 



this fliagram and figure 75 di'awn by Meinardus is fundamental : while he neglects the effect 

 of the high land on the pressure distribution I simply raise the pressure distribution 

 by the height of the land, so that instead of piercing the Polar anticyclone the tableland 

 raises the anticyclone with it and so anticyclonic conditions are retained over its whole 

 surface. 



Before we can apply the conclusions thus arrived at to the actual area within the 

 Antarctic, we must have some idea of the general distribution of the high and low lands. 



Figs. 78, 79, 80. Probable Antarctic pressure, vertical cross section. 



I do not propose to attempt to solve the problem of the geogi-aphical features within the 

 Antarctic, but it is possible to form some idea of which parts are likely to be high 

 and which parts low, and we may take thes^e as giving the general configuration of the 

 land. 



We know that the plateau at the Pole is about 3,000 metres high, at the position reached 

 by Scott west of Ross Island about 2,500 metres, at the mag:ietic pole about 2,200 metres. 



