340 



SCIENCE. 



[N. s. Vol. VII. No. 167. 



Lemisphere there was a polar sea almost 

 completely surrounded by coatinental laud, 

 and continental conditions for the most part 

 prevailed. In the southern hemisphere, on 

 tlie other hand, there was almost certainly 

 a continent at the South Pole which was 

 completely surrounded by the ocean, and, 

 in those latitudes, the most simple and ex- 

 tended oceanic conditions on the surface of 

 the globe were encountered. 



"With reference to the atmosphere, Dr. 

 Murray said that one of the most remark- 

 able features in the meteorology of the 

 globe was the low atmospheric pressure at 

 all seasons in the southern hemisphere 

 south of latitude 45° S., with the accom- 

 panying strong westerly and northwesterly 

 winds, large rain and snow fall, all round 

 the South Polar regions. There were, he 

 believed, many indications that the extreme 

 South Polar area was occupied by a vast 

 anti-cyclone, out of which winds blew to- 

 wards the girdle of low pressure outside 

 the icebound region. The anti-cyclonic 

 area at the South Pole appeared to be per- 

 manent, and, when in winter the sea-ice 

 was for the most part continuous, and ex- 

 tended far to the north, the anti-cyclonic 

 area had most probably a much wider ex- 

 tension than in summer. All observations 

 in high southern latitudes indicated an ex- 

 tremely low summer temperature. In win- 

 ter we had no direct observations. It was 

 most likely that the prevailing winds blew 

 out from the Pole all the year round to- 

 wards the surrounding sea, as in the case 

 of Greenland ; but, unlike Greenland, this 

 area was probabl}' seldom traversed bj^ 

 cyclonic disturbances. But what had been 

 stated only showed how little real knowl- 

 edge we possessed concerning the atmos- 

 pheric conditions of high southern lati- 

 tudes. It was certain, however, that even 

 two years' systematic observations within 

 these regions would be of the utmost value 

 for the future of meteorological science. 



Dr. Murray next dealt with the Antarc- 

 tic ice. From many points of view it would 

 be important to learn something about the 

 condition and distribution of Antarctic sea- 

 ice during the winter months, and espe- 

 cially about the position of the huge table- 

 shaped icebergs at this and other seasons of 

 the year. These flat-topped icebergs, with 

 a thickness of 1,200 ft. or 1,500 ft., with their 

 stratification and their perpendicular cliffs, 

 rising 150 ft. or 200 ft. above and sinking 

 1,100 ft. or 1,400 ft. below the level of the 

 sea, formed the most striking peculiarity of 

 the Antarctic Ocean. Their form and struc- 

 ture seemed clearly to indicate that they 

 were formed on an extended land surface 

 and had been pushed out over low-lying 

 coasts into the sea. Eoss sailed for 300 

 miles along the face of a great ice-barrier 

 from 150 ft. to 200 ft. in height, off which 

 he obtained depths of 1,800 ft. and 2,400 ft. 

 All Antarctic land was not, however, sur- 

 rounded by such inaccessible cliffs of ice. 

 Kristensen and Borchgrevink landed on a 

 pebbly beach, occupied by a penguin rook- 

 ery, at Cape Adare without encountering 

 any land-ice descending to the sea. Where 

 a penguin rookery was situated we might 

 be quite sure that there was occasionally 

 open water for a considerable portion of 

 the year, and that consequently landing 

 might be effected without much diflBculty or 

 delaj' ; and, further, that a party, once 

 landed, might with safety winter at 

 such a spot, where the penguins would 

 furnish an abundant supply of food 

 and fuel. A properly equipped party of 

 observers situated at a point like this on the 

 Antarctic continent for one or two winters 

 might carry out a most valuable series of 

 scientific observations, make successful ex- 

 cursions toward the interior, and bring 

 back valuable information as to the prob- 

 able thickness of the ice-cap, its tempera- 

 ture at different levels, its rate of accumu- 

 lation, and its motions, concerning all of 



