10 



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 German 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, may be attributed to the circulation of 

 warm air drawn from lower and warmer latitudes about a minimum pressure far north of the station. 



Frequently the daily observations at noon G.M.T. 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 connexion between the strong winds and gales from Northward and Westward 

 associated with diminishing pressure at Kerguelen and the 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. As instances in which the common origin of these 

 increases in wind force, experienced at the two stations, is shown, the following cases are cited. Doubtless 

 the fuller data in the possession of the German meteorologists bring into greater prominence the connexion 

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



18th to 20th February, 1902. 



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; 

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



23rd to 28th April, 1902. 



On the 23rd April of the same year, at noon G.M.T., pressure at Kerguelen Island had fallen 0'71 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 G.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 had 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 



