The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-09-14

FrIgid Circlo and What 1t Contains-The
Trcacherous Ice, Which Is Always Shift.
Ing and Varying.
1t is curious fact that the most cheer.
less portion OF our globo and tho regioB
that is most awful in its desolation has
for generations been tho center of a most
tho most remote from all civilization and
has tho least to benefit mankind has pre-
sontcd weird fascination to explorers
that tho long and unbroken limo of fail
urcs has not been ablo to diminish This
Is the great zono or belt that constitutes
the vast northern circumpolar region, and
which, after dofying nearly four centuries
OF exploring endcavor, still guards its sol
cmn secrets with grim and unabatcd Wig
ilancc. a mere catalogue of the public
and private expeditions that have been
fitted out to penetrate this strange realm
would fill pages. But, whether they went
forth i'll quiet or with the zeal born for
heroic daring and endurance or went forth
with the pride and ponlp of the armada,
not ono Of tho multitude has found its
quest.
Now, in brief, what are tho general
physical conditions, what aro these insur-
mountablo impediments that have so sue
cessfully barred all penetration to this alb
solutcly unknown region around tho pole2
1t is, of course, understood that the polar
points aro such for tho reason that they
are the nxial points in tho carth's rota-
ton, and as our revolving globo presents
its equatorial limo to the sun these polar
points thereby necessarily arc tho regions
most remote from the solar influence.
Hence 1T is that in tho districts of these
pivotal points arc tho localities where the
low temperature of the globes finds Its
maximum, whilo tho equatorial belt pre-
scnts tho maximum of high temperature.
Now, ms it happened, tho polar point
unuer consideration is in the midst of a
sca-at least so far as we know, this is tho
case. Singularly enough, this polar basin
Is pretty we'll landlockcd, the great north
crn land divisions of Europe, Asia, North
America and Greenland, all abutting
against or into this arctic sea, not in n
solid, circular mass, of course, or this
polar matter would be of much more SIM
pie solution. But there are great gaps Of
water that connect tho Arctic ocean with
both tho Atlantic and Pacific basins. and
we shall SEQ how this great physical fuct
bears on and bars polar investigation
Those who understand something of
what may be termed the photography of
the carth's mctcorology will know that,
owing to unequal temperature there are
caused primarily by tho uncqually heated
seas, or parts of seas, seeking equilibrium.
These currents also involve the Arctic
ocean, and now we shall sec the action of
the great factor, low temperature When
the sun Is low in the southern heavens
and tho freezing limo extends down to-
ward the equator 55 degrees of latitude.
there is then u frigid circle over 1000
miles in diameter, with the north pole as
Its center and closest point.
OF course tremendous congealation
takes place, but when the sun resumes its
northern journey the circle of high temper
aturo is showed polcward until the area
that docs not lose its ice is less than 3, 900
miles in diameter On this area there is
something of summer, moro than the
mere sun conditions would warrant The
matter is worth considcring> While the
sun is still near tho horizon, for months it
docs not sink below 1t, and thus the solar
contribution of warmth is considerable.
But there is u halt of summer temperature
all around this axial REGION, and, come
tho currents from whence they may, they
can como only from the south. There is
limit to north and south, but thcrc is no
limit to cast or west, and thus it is, when
the summer belt is crowded far north
ward, that all the in1owing brccZcs are
quartcr-whilc all outgoing brccZcs bear
away some of the stock of lower tempera-
turc.
But this now looscns vast areas of ice.
Cataracts roar as tho waters from the
melting masses fall over prccipiccs and
pack ice, iccbergs and fields of floating
ice, largo and small, all crowd and crush,
grind and break as the currents bear them
out toward other seas
Long before this floating ice has had
time to be transported tho brief summer
ends. Tho sun goes on his return Jour
ncy, and the crushing ice heavcd into all
kinds OF fantastic shapes known as hum
Knocks, is locked Rains and SHOWS add
to it, and, though soon solid enough to
bear the weight of armies, there is nothing
moro tircsomc on earth than to journey
over it. Some of the polar winters are
comparatively mild, as IL few years ago
whalcrs went far in, the ice flow being
light, and found whales in immense mum
bcrs in secluded hooks in the arctic wa
tiers.
On that Arctic sea not onco in score
of years is there n time when ice is not on
the move from the spring until caught on
the flow by the next winter And vet
there arc frogs and fowl innunerablc
The latter, of course, mostly leave when
the rigorous season comes, and the former
hibernate down in the mud where tho
motion and temperature prevent freezing.
All these creatures breed in that region
that yet so utterly dcfes man. Now comes
the question, How is the advance to be
made with such an environment, what
motive power other than dogs is available
and how are subsistence and tho necessary
nf,tt n.