ANTARCTIC CLIMATE. 39 
THE METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE 
“ANTARCTIC” IN THE SOUTHERN POLAR SEA, 
IS94-1895. 
(Meteorologische Zeitschrift, vol. xiii, 1896, p. 111.) 
THE meteorological observations of the last South Polar Expedition 
are about the most Important of the results which have been secured. 
The log has been reproduced by photolithography, and of this a 
specimen has been reprinted in Petermann’s ‘Mitteilungen.’ The 
observations cover the months of December 1894 and January 
1895, and were taken six times per day, but they are unfortunately 
incomplete. Here and there mistakes have occurred either in observing 
or copying. The temperatures are in whole degrees F., and the 
barometer was only read to tenths of an inch. 
Air Temperature—South of latitude 60° the temperature ranged 
between 43° and 27°. Ross, in the same region, in the first three 
months of 1841, had recorded 41°-5 and 11°°7. Hann had calculated 
from Ross’s observations, for the zone 60° to 68° S. a mean tempera- 
ture for summer of 30°°5, and for the zone 75° to 78° S.a mean 
February temperature of 24°°1. We may therefore assume from the 
log of the Antarctic that Ross’s mean values are decidedly below the 
normal. From the latitude 66°S., where the Antarctic remained 
from December 15 to January 5, if we neglect the obviously incorrect 
observations for December 23, we can draw a fair diurnal tem- 
perature curve, and from this determine the 24-hour value. 
This ig 32° (in the beginning of summer!) with a range of 2°:2 
(31°°1 at 4a.m., 33°°3 at 4 pm.). The Antarctic remained in the 
belt of latitude between 70° and 74° from January 15 to 26. If 
we omit the figures for 4 pm. we can get a good curve, and 
for a 24-hour mean the value 31°°6, with a range from 33°°3 to 
30°°4. Ross was in these latitudes from January 10 to 21, 1841. 
The mean of the extremes was then 29°-7 (absolute maximum 
40°:5, minimum 26°°4). If we remember that 1841 belonged to 
a cold climatic period, and that we are probably in a warm one at 
present, we may fairly frame the hypothesis that the normal mean 
for the summer lies between the values of Ross and Kristensen. 
Temperature of Sea Water—We need not reproduce these figures, 
inasmuch as they show a very uniform condition. We may, however, 
point out the distinction between different belts of the Southern 
Ocean as follows: 
