THE METEOROLOGY OF THE AMERICAN 

 QUADRANT OF THE ANTARCTIC* 



Jules Rouch 



The Meteorological Investigation of the American 

 Quadrant of the Antarctic 



Of all the Antarctic the lands situated south of Cape Horn offer 

 the most fruitful field for meteorological investigation. Seven major 

 scientific exploring expeditions have visited this region. 



In 1 898-1 899 the Belgian expedition under de Gerlache on the 

 Belgica traced the main outlines of the western side of Graham Land 

 and spent a year in the pack ice west of Alexander I Land in the sea 

 that is now termed by geographers Bellingshausen Sea. The Belgica, 

 in longitude 87° 33' W., reached 71° 36' S., a latitude which has not been 

 surpassed in this area by any subsequent expedition. 



In 1902 the Swedish scientist Otto Nordenskjold explored the 

 eastern side of Graham Land and wintered at Snow Hill Island in 

 latitude 64° 21' S. The vessel of the expedition, the Antarctica, was 

 shipwrecked on the voyage back to fetch the explorers. The ship's 

 party wintered on Paulet Island, whereas Nordenskjold and his 

 associates continued their observations for another year until an 

 Argentine vessel was able to effect their rescue. 



In 1903 a Scottish expedition under the command of Dr. W. S. 

 Bruce explored Weddell Sea. This expedition was not able to make as 

 great a southing as Weddell, who had attained latitude 74° 15' in 1823 

 in waters practically ice-free, but the discovery was made in 74° i' S. 

 and 20° W. of a new land, which was named Coats Land. The expe- 

 dition spent the winter on the South Orkneys in latitude 60° 44'. 



In 1904 Dr. Charcot on the Frangais visited the lands explored by 

 the Belgica and wintered on Wandel Island in 65° 3'. 



In 1908 Dr. Charcot undertook a new expedition, which reex- 

 plored the western side of Graham Land and the vicinity of Alexander 

 I Land, discovered new lands in this region, wintered on his vessel, 

 the Pourquoi Pas?, on Petermann Island in latitude 65° 10' S., spent 

 more than a month on the South Shetland Islands, and crossed Bel- 

 lingshausen Sea approximately along the 70th parallel. 



In 1912 a German expedition under Dr. Filchner on the Deutsch- 

 land explored Weddell Sea, exceeded by a wide margin all preceding 

 records in this region, and discovered Luitpold Land in 77° 49' S. 



* Translated by the editor from the French original written for the present volume. 



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