SOUTH 
are now being carried on which tend to show that the meteorology 
of the two hemispheres is more interdependent than was hitherto 
believed, so that a meteorological distm*bance in one part of the 
world makes its presence felt, more or less remotely perhaps, all over 
the world. 
It is evident, therefore, that a complete knowledge of the weather 
conditions in any part of the world, which it is understood carries 
with it the ability to make correct forecasts, can never be obtained 
unless the weather conditions in every other part are known. This 
makes the need for purely scientific Polar Expeditions so imperative, 
since our present knowledge of Arctic and Antarctic meteorology 
is very meagre, and to a certain extent unsystematic. What is 
wanted is a chain of observing stations well equipped with instru- 
ments and trained observers stretching across the Antarctic Conti- 
nent. A series of exploring ships could supplement these observa- 
tions with others made by them while cruising in the Antarctic Seas. 
It would pay to do this, even for the benefit accruing to farmers, 
sailors, and others who are so dependent on the weather. 
As an instance of the value of a knowledge of Antarctic weather 
conditions, it may be mentioned that, as the result of observations 
and researches carried out at the South Orkneys — a group of sub- 
Antarctic islands at the entrance to the Weddell Sea — it has been 
found that a cold winter in that sea is a sure precursor of a ckought 
over the maize- and cereal-bearing area of Argentina three and a half 
years later. To the farmers the value of this knowledge so far in 
advance is enormous, and since England has some three hundred 
million pounds sterhng invested in Argentine interests, Antarctic 
Expeditions have proved, and will prove, then worth even from a 
purely commercial point of view. 
I have given just this one mstance to satisfy those who question 
the utiKty of Polar Expeditions, but many more could be cited. 
As soon as it was apparent that no landing could be made, and 
that we should have to spend a winter in the ship drifting round 
with the pack, instruments wei'e set up and observations taken just 
as if we had been ashore. 
A meteorological screen or box was erected on a platform over 
the stern, right away from the living quarters, and in it were placed 
the maximum and minimum thermometers, the recording barograph, 
and thermograph — an instrument which writes every variation of 
the temperature and pressure on a sheet of paper on a revolving 
drum — and the standard thermometer, a very carefully manufac- 
tured thermometer, with all its errors determined and tabulated. 
The other thermometers were all checked from this one. On top of 
the screen a Robinson's anemometer was screwed. This consisted 
348 
