288 Scientific Results of 



in very high latitudes, will form valuable contributions to 

 meteorological science. The present state of meteorology 

 requires a more thorough investigation of the motions of the 

 earth's atmosphere than has yet been undertaken ; and for 

 this important object the less frequented parts of the earth's 

 surface should be studied as well as the most frequented. 



The climate of Europe in no small degree depends on the 

 atmospheric conditions of the polar area, in which the deve- 

 lopment of extremely low temperatures necessarily leads to 

 corresponding extreme changes of pressure and other atmo- 

 spheric disturbances, the effects of which are felt far into the 

 temperate zone. For the satisfactory appreciation of these 

 phenomena, a precise knowledge of the distribution of land 

 and water within the polar area is quite necessary, and any 

 addition to our geographical knowledge of the Arctic region, 

 accompanied by suitable observations of its meteorology, cannot 

 fail to afford improved means of understanding the meteoro- 

 logy of our own country and of the earth generally. 



Magnetism and Physics. — -The extension of research into 

 the phenomena of magnetism and atmospheric electricity, in 

 the vicinity of the poles, will necessarily be of much scientific 

 importance ; and generally, so far as the conditions of the 

 climate and the means of an exploring expedition will permit, 

 investigations in all branches of physics in the proximity of 

 the pole, where so many of the forces of nature operate in an 

 extreme degree — either of excess or defect — will surely be 

 followed by the acquisition of knowledge which can only be 

 obtained in those exceptional localities. 



The study of the aurora, which is among the most striking 

 phenomena visible on our planet, is almost impossible in low 

 latitudes ; while the advance of spectrum analysis has given 

 the means of determining the chemical elements involved, so 

 that all that seems required here is the means of applying 

 this description of observation ; and this can only be got near 

 the pole. 



