1915- No. 2. 



SPITSBERGEN WATERS. 



87 



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

 to 1896, we had much opportunity 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 few 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 studying 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 they 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 observations 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 n 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 i9th, 1912, 154 naut. 

 miles (285 kilometres) to the south, although in this region, where the sea 



