76 H. MOHN. M.-N. Kl. 



From Framheim the pressure rises on the Barrier to latitude 85'' and 

 86", indicating an anticyclonic state with low pressure in lower latitudes. 

 The winds are mainly SE-ly and rather cold. 



But over The Plateau the pressure is rather low. The winds are 

 SSE-ly and have a relatively high temperature. There is a gradient to- 

 wards the North-East, indicating the existence of centres of low pressure 

 in this direction. 



It seems that in the higher regions, above 2000 m. and up to 2800 m., 

 there were, in December 191 1, cyclonic movements of the air with centres 

 in the North- East quadrant, higher temperature and a great deal of preci- 

 pitation. 



This agrees in a remarkable way with the view set forth by Prof. W. 

 Meinardus in his paper »Aufgaben und Probleme der meteorologischen 

 Forschung in der Antarktis«': He says: 



»Die antarktische Anticyklone ist eine Luftdrucklage, die nur den un- 

 teren Schichten der Atmosphäre eigen ist. Sie tritt nur in der Luftdruck- 

 vertheilung im Meeresniveau deutlich hervor. Dagegen muss wegen der 

 niedrigen Temperatur des Südpolargebiets die vertikale Abnahme des Luft- 

 drucks dort so rasch sein, dass oberhalb eines gewissen Niveaus der 

 Luftdruck über dem Südpolargebiet nicht höher sondern niedriger ist als 

 in seiner Umgebung. Ueber der unteren Anticyklone liegt also eine 

 Zyklone.« 



That the distribution of pressure and winds in many cases is ver\' 

 irregular and of a character similar to those round Framheim, becomes 

 apparent on scrutinizing the tables of observation. An illustration may be 

 taken from the observations at »The Butcher's Shop« on the 24*^^* to the 

 26*'' November. During the morning of the 24**^ the barometer begins to 

 fall from 513.4 mm., and reaches 503.9 mm. on the morning of the 26*''. 

 The wind turns from ENE to NE, and its velocity rises from 4 to 12 m.p.s. 

 The direction of the gradient turns from NW to WNW. A centre of 

 low pressure seems to pass North of the station, being nearest on the 

 morning of the 26*^^ , from NE to SW. The temperature rises, and is 

 highest at noon on the 25*^ , after which it falls. Snow drifts during the 

 whole time. 



^ Geographische Zeitschrift. Herausgegeben von Dr. Alfred Hettner. 20. Jahrg. I. Heft. 1914. 



