December 5, 1913] 



SCIENCE 



819 



marks an epoch in the meteorological history 

 ■of the Antarctic regions. 



The meteorological conditions of the ant- 

 arctic and sub-antarctic regions are shown on 

 883 daily charts, which include 44,893 observa- 

 tions. Cooperation was obtained from 233 

 ships and 92 land stations, including several 

 observatories. Through the courtesy of the 

 leaders of the German (Professor von Dry- 

 ■galski), Scottish (Dr. W. S. Bruce) and 

 Swedish (Dr. Otto ISTordenskiold) Antarctic 

 Expeditions observations were used from 

 Kaiser Wilhelm II. Land, Laurie Island, South 

 Orkneys and Snow Hill Island and Palmer 

 Land. 



One hundred and twenty supplementary 

 charts exhibit for each month of the year (and 

 for the year) the mean sea-level pressure and 

 air temperature, with the mean temperature 

 :and the mean pressure for each month from 

 October, 1901. to March, 1904. 



The wind observations are also summarized 

 'in ten tables as to direction and force, arranged 

 according to seasons, to related zones and to 

 oceanic divisions. 



Commander Hepworth is justified in setting 

 forth the magnitude of the work, though his 

 ■statement is questioned that the charts " refer 

 ito an area that is far larger than that embraced 

 by any similar set of charts hitherto pub- 

 lished." While true as to the Antarctic 

 ■regions, he seems to have forgotten the daily 

 •charts of international meteorological observa- 

 'tions, published by the signal corps of the 

 United States army from July, 1878, to June, 

 1884, which covered the entire northern hemi- 

 sphere and embodied observations from more 

 than 1,000 regular observers. 



The results as set forth by Commander Hep- 

 ■worth are of interest and value. " The average 

 path of all central areas of depressions is 

 found to have been in about the 52d parallel. 

 Between the meridians of 20° E. and 150° E., 

 it was between the 49th and 50th parallels; 

 and between 150° E. and 70° W. in about the 

 55th." The average rate of travel is about 

 "300 miles per day. One storm, with an 

 average rate of 355 miles daily, was charted 

 through a course of 2,840 miles. It may be 



added that the assumption of the late Mr. 

 H. C. Eussell is confirmed, that to the east of 

 the 30th meridian E., centers of atmospheric 

 depressions usually travel on paths south of 

 the 43d parallel during winter, and south of 

 the 46th parallel in summer. 



Of special interest are the conclusions as to 

 the general movements of the atmosphere. 

 Commander Hepworth says : " The interchange 

 of air between equatorial and polar regions 

 may be effected through the intermediary of 

 anticyclonic circulations, albeit these high- 

 pressure systems are permanent; and in my 

 opinion the temperature zones are bridged in 

 this manner." 



The charts of mean pressures clearly indi- 

 cate a seasonal migration of high pressure 

 belts in the Antarctic regions. This action is 

 evidently general. Pointed out by Buchan in 

 a general way, these atmospheric phenomena 

 for the northern hemisphere were definitely set 

 forth by the reviewer in a series of charts, 

 published in Appendix 17, Annual Report of 

 the Chief Signal Officer of the Army, 1891. 



An incidental feature of this magnificent 

 work requires notice. The Antarctic map of 

 Volume I., 1908, omitted entirely Wilkes's 

 Antarctic discoveries. The key map of Volume 

 II. contains the legend : " Land reported by 

 Commander Wilkes, U. S. N., 1840." Twelve 

 months prior to the transmittal of the proofs 

 of the introductory remarks, an Australian, 

 Dr. Mawson, had not only visited this " re- 

 ported " land but had established two scientific 

 stations thereon, and to-day with courage and 

 energy creditable to the British empire adds to 

 the world's knowledge of this vast and ice- 

 crowned continent, so long discredited. 



A. W. Greely 



THE BELGIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 



R&sultats du voyage du 8. Y. Belgica en 

 1897-8-9, sous le commandement de A. de 

 Gerlache de Gomery. Rapports Scien- 

 tifiques. Geologie. Petrographische unter- 

 suchungen des gesteinsproben, II., voN 

 Dragomir Sistek. 1912, pp. 20, 1 pi. 

 ZooLOGiE. Tuniciers caducichordata (Asci- 



