322 POLAR PROBLEMS 



If the geology and the glaciology of the continent is to be eluci- 

 dated, the example of Scott and his devoted companions must be 

 emulated in the future as it has been paralleled in the past by many 

 parties whose fate has been less tragic. It is in one sense fortunate 

 for Antarctic science that the poles have been removed from the 

 sphere of the unknown and, therefore, to a great extent, from among 

 the major objectives of the explorer of the future. 



American Quadrant 



Beyond 70° S. in the west and 78® S. in the east, the whole inner 

 portion of this quadrant is unknown. 



The Weddell Sea area and Coats Land form the easternmost 

 explored region of the quadrant. From east to west the fringing zone 

 of this land may be referred to as the Bruce, Caird, and Luitpold 

 Coasts. Of the structure of Coats Land there is still no direct evidence. 

 The Filchner expedition has shown that Weddell Sea does not extend 

 south of latitude 78° S., and several nunataks have been sighted 

 (but not visited) by Filchner in 77° 55' S. and 34° 30' W. The in- 

 vestigations of the Endurance expedition have also shown that Morrell 

 Land (or New South Greenland) does not exist.^ It would appear 

 that the continental shelf of Coats Land is comparatively narrow, and 

 a large number of soundings taken from the Endurance during her 

 forced detention in the pack have thrown a flood of light on the 

 structure and nature of that portion of it which forms the floor of 

 Weddell Sea. The shelf is here shown to consist of a series of stepped 

 terraces (180-190 fathoms, 250-260 fathoms, respectively) having 

 northeast-southwest boundaries, running at right angles apparently 

 to the presumed coast line farther to the southwest, but probably 

 parallel to the known fringe of the Luitpold and Caird Coasts of Coats 

 Land. The most probable explanation of these terraces, as J. M. 

 Wordie has pointed out, is that they are due to faulting. The deep 

 sounded by Ross in 1843 does not enter Weddell Sea. 



Though Coats Land is now completely ice-covered (except for 

 the nunataks seen in 78° S.), the mountainous nature of the snow 

 surface beyond the long line of barrier cliffs is certain indication of 

 the presence of land, and, in the far distance, ice-clad mountains rise 

 apparently to great heights. 



The geology of the region is partially revealed in the numerous 

 erratic blocks dredged from the Weddell Sea floor. Most commonly 

 these rocks are grits, quartzites, and gray granite, some of the sedi- 



3 It may be stated in this connection that it has been pointed out (A. W. Greely: Handbook of 

 Polar Discoveries, 5th edit., New York, 1910, p. 306, and J. M. Wordie, Geogr. Journ., Vol. Si. 1918, 

 pp. 227-228) that Morrell may have skirted the eastern coast of Graham Land and that the non- 

 existent positions he gives of his landfalls may have been due to incorrect longitudes (his latitudes 

 are substantially correct). — Edit. Note. 



