100 



HOBBS— CHARACTERISTICS OF THE 



[April 22, 



the Danish northeast Greenland expedition found " the wind was 

 constantly from the northwest, this being the result of the high 

 pressure of air which is found over the inland ice."*^' 



These conditions of circulation are schematically represented in 

 Fig. 29. In March, 1894, Peary encountered on the north slope 



Fig. 29. Diagram to illustrate the air circulation over the isblink of 

 Greenland. 



of the inland-ice a series of blizzards before unprecedented in 

 Arctic work, one lasting for three days, during which for a period 

 of 34 hours the average wind velocity, as recorded by anemometer, 

 was 48 miles per hour. Viewed in the light of violent southerly 

 blizzards which Shackelton found to prevail upon the ice plateau 

 in the Antarctic, these winds must be considered as belonging to the 

 same Greenland or isblink system which has been described as of 

 such general prevalence. 



After comparing the meteorological data from his journey with 

 contemporaneous observations on the shores of Baffin's Bay, Nansen 

 believed that he was able to make out faintly the influence of gen- 

 eral cyclonic movements. He says.*'* 



The plateau seems to be too high and the air too cold to allow depres- 

 sions or storm centres to pass across, though, nevertheless, our observations 

 show that in several instances the depressions of Baffin's Bay, Davis' Strait 

 and Denmark Strait can make themselves felt in the interior. 



Commenting upon Peary's conclusions above quoted, Cham- 

 berlin'^^ ascribes the wind which flows downward and outward from 



*' Lieut. A. Trolle, R. D. N., " The Danish Northeast Greenland Expedi- 

 tion," Scot. Gcogr. Mag., Vol. 25, 1909, pp. 57-70 (map and illustrations). 

 ** Nansen, /. c. Vol. 2, p. 496. 

 ''/oMr. Geol, Vol. 3, 1895, pp. 578-579- 



