The Portland daily press., 1873-08-29
The OEen Polar sea.
hO UPtH OIHI 'Vds
[Read before the A. A. AS. by Pro. W. W. wheil-
don

Mr.. Wheildon's paper was on the general
phenomena OF the Arctic regions considered
IN reference to the atmospheric theory
of an ameliorated climate and an
open polar sea, subject which he
mas presented in 10 former papers,
He spoke OF the geography of the region and
ihe great water sheds i'll the Arctic Ocean in
| both countries-aud extended generally as
| tar north as 80 deg. and including five or six
| OF the largest rvers in the world, draining
region oil three or four millions os square
miles. In reference to tic Arctic OceaD, Mr..
weldon controv rted The statements ade by
The late Prot Rogers Of Edinburgh, in his
physical Atlas, oi eonverging aud rotating
ocean. aud discussed the somewhat conf.,ed
question of outlets as defined by tn 1t gentle
man and also his views in regard TO the
movement of the waters CT the Gulf Stream.
Capt. Barrow considers the Polar Sea as de-
hned by circly ON the latitude of 20 deg. of
z.4G0 geographical miles IN diameter, and
100 miles i'll circumference. IL seems 20
haye been supposed that because ii surrounds
tie position OF the theolctic pole, it must
necessarily revoive around that imaginary OBJ
ject which some explorers seen TO have re-
Sarded as a post and ct them speaks OF it
as pivot or point OF the axis on which the
Globe OF the earth turns" An American not
| long since deelaled that "Capt. Hall would
! sci his fool upon the pOic Itself.
The subject OF Arctic currents was then full
| ~ discussed and The great Polar current from
the siberian rivers toward Sp,iZbe-gen aud
Greenland described. This great current ap-
pears to move southwest, loaded with ice and
jriftwood neary or quite in the track OF what
) assumed to be prOlongatipn of the Cult
StTeam, SO that on tie Gulf Stream theory
these streams must cross each other. Tie
latest intelligence furnished by DIR. Peternan
l"cates the polar current for the east and near
Ia. ID, IL - IL
survey and explorations or Admin al John Ruy-
ers were referred to and quote. against che
idea Of simply rotating current aronnd the
pole.
Tue subject Of outlets and in,ets as defined
by PrOf Rogers and Others, was next copsid-
cred. Prof. Rogers speaks OF Bhering Straits
as one of sine really but two iniets.'' but re-
CARDS it as null on account OF It's shaowness:
and subsequently, in the same paper, makes it
the special inlet OF the Japanese current which
he uses TO enforce the Gulf stream, neither e
which as the speaker believes, reach the Arc
tic ocean at all. Capt. Keiletts vie VS. of the
current are, Bhering's STRAITS arr quoted as
well as those OF Admiral Ro2ers.
The several temperatures of the Artic
Oceau and the P0er OF cold are considered of
The remarkable facts stated that the pusi,ion
ot the poles OF cold, is nearly in the ntral
latitude OF the great ice-belt which surrounds
the polar sea, and the inierenc.'s are thai the
is m!der temp erature north rs We'll as
south ot it, a fact confirmed by all explorers
and north recently by Capt. Hail and Capt.
ieyson OF the Polaris expedition. The SUI
ject of frozen ice which are OF the most con-
slant artic phenomena, it is believed can only
ne explained on the atmospheric theory.
Capt said be was tlStied no man could ex-
plain the phenomena as be had seen il; there
is no difficulty in doing so in the present
light. On th'' subject Capt. Beeehing, Nc
Chuioch. KaGe and others are noted.
The ice barrier is next considertd. 1t has
been enumerated at all points and 90 gateway
as claimed has ever been found through it.
If the gulf stream keeps an open sea as al
legged no doubt it would keep an open gate
way into it. and so far as that may go up,
Slas Bept's theory is reasonable. The gen.
era climate of the artic regions is consider ed,
aud large amount OF evidence as to its char
acter furnished Capt. Perry found fresh water
ponds on the ice, norTh of the la ltGde OF tie
poles of cold Capt. Hall and Capt.
Tyson describe the climate as mid be-
y,nd their expectations as shown by
the absepce OF STOW end ice, and a rising
thermometer Animal lite was abundant ard
is SO in the Arctic regions on the mountain
ranges of Spi'zber9en, Greenland, Jan May
en-, Kennedy Channel, ard probably on
more northerly shores all winter. There
are many well established facts which appear
to- authorize the belief that there is beyOnd
tbs ice barrier a climate equally as mild il not
much more so, than that to the south of it.
The snow line in the Arctic region is In the
vailes and extend to greater or less distance
up the slles OF the mountain, whiie the tops
are often bare aud c.. .mparatively free Of
sncw, ard subject to frequent falls tf rain.
The deer and other animals find their feeding
grounds above the snow lihe, and there Is
abundant evideaees that they remain tie q
through the winter. Capt. Mcclure, in his
famous passage around the North American
Continent. says ''rhe hates and ptaimagin
descended from the high ground TO the SEA
ridges, so that supply Of game was kept up
curing the wiuter." Record is made OF a
great variabieness Of climate generally IN the
Arctic regions but beyond the ice beit II may
be nearly as equable as in the torrlo zoilF.
As under the tropics there afe oby spring
and summer. so in the north there are oniy
summer and winter The most recent INTEL
licance from the Arctic regions confirms, as
we have said. the suppos'tlon of an anchor
vi ..l;mar bevond the Ii ost northerly iati-
,',Ge vet reached Capt. HaiPs last written
,aco,js in latitude so 6eg. 80 min. were:
eve find. this a much warmer count th n
we expec ed. We have found that The c, up-
try abounds with live seals, game, geese,
ducks, musk oxen, rabbits, wolves, foxee,
bears, partridges, Jennings, &C."