CLIMATOLOGY 



THE Antarctic 



we find the southeast trades blowing fairly steadily 

 about latitude 20°, along- the northern side of the belt 

 of rotating highs which move to the east in latitude 

 35°. To the south of this belt is a region dominated 

 by the Brave West Winds, which blow along the north- 

 ern side of the series of Antarctic lows. The latter 

 appear to move to the east along latitude 60°, but we 

 have no accurate data, as few ships sail so far south. 

 South again of this belt of cyclones or lows is the 

 domain of the Antarctic southeasters, which are domi- 

 nant all round the margin of the southern continent. 

 This, indeed, has been demonstrated by studies of the 

 movements of the pack ice. In Antarctica proper the 

 winds are variable, the strong blizzards always blowing 

 from the south or southeast but in places lighter north- 

 erly winds are common. On the Great Plateau we have 

 only records of a few summer journeys, but the snow 

 ridges (sastrugi) give some clue to the dominant winds 

 of the year. 



General Climatic Elements 



It is not possible to give more than a brief discussion 

 of the temperature, pressure, precipitation, and wind 



i8s 



