THE WEDDELL QUADRANT AND ADJACENT AREAS. 109 



The wind observations in the Biscoe Sea indicate that the Antarctic high is situated 

 to the south of 66° S. in about 40° E., and that the gradients are exceedingly steep for 

 southerly winds, which blow with great force. There appears to be a well-defined 

 low-pressure area in about 64° to 65° S. in 40° E. 



Temperature, as compared with January, shows little change over the region south of 

 60° S., being, on the whole, very slightly higher. It reaches the maximum for the year 

 at the South Orkneys, and is virtually the same as that of the surrounding ocean. The 

 lowest isotherm, viz. 25°, is shown over the south of the Weddell Sea, but observations 

 are too few for its position to be accurately denned. Except at the Falkland Islands 

 and Sandy Point, temperature has decreased 1 or 2 degrees over the area from 40° 

 to 50° S. 



Cloud amount continues very large over the greater part of the Antarctic and sub- 

 Antarctic regions, but over Graham's Land (where there is a marked excess of south and 

 south-east winds) a comparatively small amount is recorded, this being associated with 

 a relatively dry atmosphere. 



In March, pressure has risen slightly in the Bellingshausen Sea, but has fallen over 

 Graham's Land and the South Orkneys, being at its annual minimum at most places 

 south of 50° S., with South Georgia as the only marked exception. 



The characteristic features of pressure-distribution remain substantially the same 

 as in February, but both the eastern and western lows have deepened, and as pressure 

 has given way more in the south than in the north, a general steepening of gradients 

 has taken place between 50° and 60° S., causing a marked increase in gale -frequency 

 to the south and south-east of Cape Horn, on the Chilian coast south of 50° S., and on 

 the east side of Graham's Land. 



North-west winds are now at their annual maximum at Staten Island and the 

 Falkland Islands, and over a considerable part of this area it is the stormiest month 

 of the year. In the Weddell Sea the barometric gradient is comparatively slight until 

 about 68° S. lat., and the " Scotia " observations, comprising two March months, show 

 a steady diminution of pressure to at least 72° S. It is probable that during this 

 month the barometric trough in the Weddell Sea occupies its most southerly position 

 of the year, being probably located in about 70° S. lat. on the meridian of 20° W. 

 Easterly gales are comparatively frequent south of 67° 30' S., pointing to very steep 

 gradients at times in this region. The same conditions prevail in about 71° S. and 

 93° W., where these winds blow with the maximum force of the year. 



Temperature has everywhere fallen. At Wandel Island, the South Orkneys, South 

 Georgia, and the Chilian coast stations, which are largely under oceanic influence, the 

 fall amounts to only 1 degree, but in the Bellingshausen Sea it reaches 5 degrees, and 

 at Snow Hill as much as 9 degrees. The isotherms show a very steep thermal gradient 

 between the east and west of Graham's Land. It is evident that the influence of the 

 land area, which is shown to be probably located to the east in 66° S. and 47° W., is 

 making itself felt. 



