71 



viations, which with certainly indicated a current in the 

 E— W direction with numerous variations; in the S — N di- 

 rection the current was feeble (about \ 20 of E — W). At 

 times of auroras, the variations in the S — N direction were 

 great and numerous and in full accord with the variations 

 of de magnetic declination. 



In Enare on the contrary the E — W current was hardly 

 measurable and the S — N current nearly = 0. During 

 splendid auroral displays, the galvanometer showed hardly 

 any deviation, the declination needle beeing continually in 

 movement. 



As the beautiful international enterprise to make me- 

 teorological and magnetic investigations in the polar-regions 

 was to be realized, Finland tooke part in it with a station 

 in Sodankylä 1882 — 83. The chief direction of the expedi- 

 tion was intrusted to me and my assistant was M:r E. Biese 

 at present Director of the meteorological institution in Hel- 

 singfors. Profiting by this occasion we introduced at the 

 Sodankylä polar station lat. 67° 24', 5 and long. 26° 36',i, 

 observations of the earth currents and of the electrical cur- 

 rents in the atmosphere. In consequence of the obtained 

 results, these observations were continued the year 1883 — 

 84, during which a by-station was established in Kultala, 

 lat. 68° 30', o, long. 26° 46', 3. 



Guided by the experience from 1882 — 83 we ende- 

 avoured to find the corrections which were necessary for 

 obtaining the EMF of the earth-current, Passing by the de- 

 tails of the method which was employed we quote only 

 that it gave in Kultala, where the earth-plates were put in 

 running water, at least approximative results, but doubtful 

 in Sodankylä, where the plates were buried in the soil. The 

 EMF of the plates, though made of platina, was variable 

 and the obtained corrections could not, of that reason, be 

 used with certainty. These corrections will be found by 

 another method, but they are not so important at present, 

 when we but hold in view the variations of the earth- 

 current. 



