ARCTIC REGIONS AERIAL EXPLORATIONS. 181 



on this subject I have been surprised at the number of edu- 

 cated men and women who have anticipated with something 

 like a shudder the terrible cold to which the poor aeronauts 

 will be exposed. 



This popular delusion which pictures the Arctic regions 

 as the abode of perpetual freezing, is so prevalent and 

 general, that some explanation is demanded. 



The special characteristic of Arctic climate is a cold and 

 long winter and a short and hot summer. The winter is 

 intensely cold simply because the sun never shines, and 

 the summer is very hot because the sun is always above the 

 horizon, and, unless hidden by clouds or mist, is continu- 

 ally shining. The summer heat of Siberia is intense, and 

 the vegetable proportionately luxuriant. I have walked 

 over a few thousand miles in the sunny South, but never 

 was more oppressed with the heat than in walking up the 

 Tromsdal to visit an encampment of Laplanders in the 

 summer of 1856. 



On the 17th July I noted the temperature on board the 

 steam packet when we were about three degrees north of 

 the Arctic circle. It stood at 77 well shaded in a saloon 

 under the deck; it was 92 in the " rok lugar," a little 

 smoking saloon built on deck; and 108 in the sun on deck. 

 This was out at sea, where the heat was less oppressive than 

 on shore. The summers of Arctic Norway are very variable 

 on account of the occasional prevalence of misty weather. 

 The balloon would be above much of the mist, and would 

 probably enjoy a more equable temperature during the 

 twenty-four hours than in any part of the world where the 

 sun sets at night. 



I am aware that the above is not in accordance with the 

 experience of the Arctic explorers who have summered in 

 such places as Smith's Sound. I am now about to per- 

 petrate something like a heresy by maintaining that the 

 summer climate there experienced by these explorers is 

 quite exceptional, is not due to the latitude, but to causes 

 that have hitherto escaped the notice of the explorers them- 

 selves and of physical geographers generally. The following 

 explanation will probably render my view of this subject 

 intelligible: 



