THE HEART OF THE ANTARCTIC 



Antarctic Tempeeatures 



Tlie accompanying diagram was drawn while in the 

 south in order to make a comparison of the temperatures 

 experienced by all the Antarctic expeditions (of which 

 records, giving monthly means for a period of one year 

 or more, were available). The results of plotting the 

 temperature curves were so curious and interesting that the 

 diagram is here reproduced. 



The months read from left to right, and the tempera- 

 tures, in degrees Fahrenheit, from above downwards. 



The two uppermost curves are Dr. Bruce's records 

 (Scotia expedition) dot and dash — . — = his first year 

 (1903), dots . . . .=his second year (1904). 



The thin plain line =^ Borschgrevinck's record (1899) . 

 (This curve is taken from Mr. Armytage's book.) 



The short dashes = the Discovery records for 



the first year (1902), the long dashes = the 



second year (1903). 



The thick plain line gives the curve for our expedition 

 which only covers ten months of the year 1908. 



Dr. Bruce's temperatures were recorded much further 

 north than any of the others and outside the Antarctic 

 Circle. They are much higher throughout except in the 

 summer months at which season all the records approxi- 

 mate pretty closely. The remarkable feature in these two 

 series is the alternating of higher and lower temperatures 

 in the two years so that the two curves when plotted 

 together make a regular chain. 



Borschgrevinck's curve is much higher than those of 

 the Discovery except in July and September which were 

 equalled in the second year of the Discovery, 



The Discovery curves for the two years show a 

 peculiarity similar to those of the Scotia. The second 

 year was colder throughout, till October, after which it 



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