1915- No. 2. 



SPITSBERGEN WATERS. 



87 



During the drift of the Fram across the North Polar Basin, from 1893 

 to 1896, we had much opportunit}- of studying the ice-pressures. We found 

 that in the sea north of the New Siberian Islands, where we were near 

 the edge of the deep North Polar Basin, and in the sea north of Spits- 

 bergen, ice-pressures occurred more or less regularly twice in 24 hours at 

 spring-tide, about new moon or full moon, and a tew days after. During 

 the same days the ice also regularly opened up much twice in 24 hours, 

 in the time between the pressures. 



Provided that the heaviest ice-pressures occur at high-water, and the 

 ice is most open at low-water, it would thus be possible to determine the 

 progress of the tidal wave across the North Polar Basin by stud\'ing the 

 movements of the ice. 



I have tried to use our observations during the Fram-expedition for 

 this purpose. It was, however, very difficult to decide at what moment 

 the tidal pressures reached their maximum, or when the\- ceased, as they 

 often proceeded somewhat irregularly. 



In the sea north of Spitsbergen some few accurate observations of the 

 time of the ice-pressures were taken by Captain S. Scott-Hansen in June 

 1896; but they give very different results, as will be seen from the fol- 

 lowing table: 



On June 8th and 9th, 1896. the ship was in 83° i' N and 12^ 12' E. 

 On June nth, at 9.32 a. m. there was a new moon. According to the 

 first three obser\'ations above, the difference between the transit of the 

 moon across the Greenwich meridian and high-water at this place should 

 have been about 14 hours and 11 minutes. This value is uncertain, but 

 if correct, high-water should consequently occur here 4 hours and 23 

 minutes later than at our station of August i8th and 19th, 1912, 154 naut. 

 miles (285 kilometresl to the south, altiiough in this region, where the sea 



