431 



depressions which traverse the Southern Oceans, depressions which are usually elliptical in shajx; and have 

 their major axes extended in a northerly and southerly direction, the easterly winds in the southern 

 segment of the system are almost always light or moderate in force. Ships running down the easting in 

 high southern latitudes seldom experience strong winds or gales from eastward, even when there appears to 

 be evidence to show that they .are situated well to the south of the central " low " of a cyclonic wind 

 system. It has, therefore, been assumed that in these systems the gradient polewards is normally slight 

 and that on its southern side the low pressure dominates but a small area. 



The results of observations obtained by the Gorman Expedition at Kerguelen Island and at, 

 Kaiser Wilhelm II. Land go far to prove that depressions which traverse the Southern Ocean cover 

 a much larger area on their southern side than was hitherto supposed ; and that although easterly gales 

 are seldom met with, on the trade routes referred to, nevertheless they occur considerably further south, 

 it is true, but still within the limits of the system and forming part of their circulation. 



The rise of temperature which was associated with gales from eastward at the " Gauss " Winter station 

 and which, as a rule, continued until the wind began to moderate, was, no doubt, due to the fact that the 

 air, circulating about a minimum pressure far north of the station, was being drawn from lower and 

 warmer latitudes. 



Frequently the daily noon G.M.T. observations of barometer and wind recorded by the German Antarctic 

 Expedition at Kerguelen Island and at the " Gauss " Winter Quarters respectively the former supplemented 

 and confirmed by similar observations made on board ships situated in the neighbourhood of the island 

 indicate a connection between the strong winds and gales from northward and westward associated with 

 diminishing pressure at Kerguelen with strong winds and gales from eastward experienced at the " Gauss " 

 station. The distance between the meridians of these two stations respectively, on a middle latitude of 

 57 43' S., is about 630 miles. The following are a few of the instances in which the common origin of 

 these increases in wind force, experienced at the two stations, is shown. Doubtless the fuller data in the 

 possession of the German meteorologists bring into greater prominence the connection referred to. It 

 should be understood that noon G.M.T. observations only are cited. 



At Kerguelen Island on the 18th February, 1902, at noon, G.M.T., the barometer stood at 29'75 inches, 

 the thermometer at 45 F. ; the wind was from west, force 5. Next day the mercury had fallen to 

 29'43 inches, the temperature had risen 1 ; and the wind, still from west, had increased to a fresh gale, 

 indicating a gradient to the south. On the 20th the barometer had risen to 29-80 inches, the thermometer 

 showed a drop in the temperature to 42 F., and the wind had backed to west-south-west. The depression 

 was passing away to the eastward. 



By this time, at noon, G.M.T., on the 20th, on board the " Gauss," in latitude 65 55' S., longitude 

 90' 20' E., the barometer indicated a pressure of 29'55 inches which was diminishing, the thermometer 

 marked 28 F., and a fresh breeze was blowing from east. The mercury had fallen to 29*28 inches on 

 the 21st, in latitude 66 17' S., longitude 90 43' E. ; temperature had risen to 31 F., and the direction 

 and force of the wind were the same as on the previous day. On the 22nd, the "Gauss" being then in her 

 Winter Quarters, the mercury had fallen but slightly : to 29'25 inches; the temperature had dropped to 

 25" F. and a strong gale was blowing from east by south. The gale had not abated at noon, G.M.T., on 

 the day following, when the direction of the wind had changed to east. The barometer then stood at 

 29 '23 inches, the thermometer at 24 F. The mercury had fallen to 29'14 inches on the 24th ; tempera- 

 ture had risen to 29 F., but the gale was abating. 



On the 23rd April of the same year, at noon, G.M.T., pressure at Kerguelen Island had fallen 

 0-7 1 inch and temperature had risen 8 F. during the preceding 24 hours. The barometer then read 

 29'20 inches and the thermometer 48 F. ; the breeze blew freshly from west-north-west. At the same 

 (!..M.T. a barometer reading of 29'58 inches was recorded at the " Gauss" station; the temperature was 

 9 F. and the wind gentle from east-south-east. On the 24th the mercury had risen to 29 - 33 inches at 

 Kerguelen Island, the temperature h'ad dropped to 34 F., and the wind had backed to south-west by west 

 and moderated. The disturbance, with which the diminution of pressure at the island had been associated, 

 was then passing away to the eastward. At the " Gauss " station the mercury had by this time fallen to 

 29'35 inches, the thermometer had risen to 17 F., and a strong gale from east by north had set in. The 



