Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-01-25

" mysteries for u.s. We weigh the
sun and analyze its substance. We
measure our distance from the stars, and
accurately chart the universe We conf
IDENTIFY expect to communicate with the in
habitants Of Mars, and yet this little round
earth almost the smallest object on our
chart of the universe, which gave birth to
mr. race and compasses all our destinies,
This insignificant green pea among the
solar and planetary pumpkins that strew
the heavens, has millions of square miles
of surface tbout which we really know
nothing at all.
You ask: What practical advantages
for humanity are to be expected from ex-
plorations of the polar regions?"
To start with / ask: How are we
to know that those mysterious regions do
not hold vast advantages for humanity?
The Arctic and Antarctic areas have not
always been frozen polar spaces. In ages
past the earth's axis was elsewhere, and
where the polar ice caps now are there
we're temperate, even tropical, conditions,
and perhaps will be again. But, at present,
and probably for ages to come, humanity
is in the grip of influences that centre at
the poles where they are now located.
what those influences are. They confine
the great mass of the earth's living crea-
lures to zone extending to irregular dis
tances north and south of the equator. Be-
tween their constant cold and the constant
heat of the equatorial region there is a
perpetual atmospheric conflict, of varying
intensity, which produces the air currents
that are largely responsible for variable
climatic conditions. We have long known
that ocean currents, produced in much the
same way extend the limits of the habit
able zone along certain longitudes and
contract them along others.
But these ocean currents, like the air
currents, are variable. The result is vari-
atoms Of climate. We are never able to
Judge from the conditions of one Spring,
Summer, Autumn or Winter season with
even reasonable exactitude what will be
the climatic conditions of the next Spring,
Summer, Autumn or Winter season-be-
cause We do not know exactly the causes
OF these variations Of air and ocean cur
rents. Accordingly we are not able to
prepare with certainty for the occasional
failures of the land and the sea to yield
a harvest equal to our needs-and we are
not able to predict far enough ahead the
approach of storms which may bring dis
aster to navigation.
Inc only way in which we can gain the
knowledge that will enable us to prepare
ior and to meet these emergencies is to
race these ocean currents throughout
uelr entire course and discover how and
Where their character is changed and how
10 Know some time in advance when those
changes are to be expected
Ihls important quest-like that relating
10 air currents-has now led us to the
polar regions. Elsewhere the currents of
the oceans and their character at different
seasons Of the year have been pretty &C
curately charted and determined The
main problems yet unsolved lie far to the
norm OF the European and American con-
l'nents, concealed ocean depths and tenn
peratures, characteristic movements of the
I'VE nelds and outlines of valleys and pla-
eaus which mark the oceans bottom at
and about the poles
scientific knowledge on these points-to
oe gained only through wel1-equipped arc
uc expeditions-will be of the greatest
gracucal value to all northern nations.
my country, Norway, the absence of
Slcn knowledge is a serious detriment.
our Iautude is hardly habitable elsewhere
-, ~ europe or anywhere in America. If
lue GuH Stream did not curve eastward
around the north of the British Isles to
OuT Shores our country would be as frozen
anu desolate as Labrador The same
npu1o be true of the British Isles and the
"uole OF northern Europe. To the warm
uIIehts of the Gulf Stream we owe our
very existence.
Already our study of this most impor-
,a 'uS Vi the oceans currents has been of
;r economic value to the nation. Dur
81 Lne last fifteen years this last arm OF
~ FuH stream in the Norwegian Sea has
zen zen pretty thoroughly examined. It's
a, 0IiSe and extent have been charted, and
las las oeen shown to be subject to great
,ja,ia'Iohs from year to year. These varia-
Ills loLs appear to be closely connected with
% ldtions in the development and habitat
~ SeVeral important species of fish, as
ma. ds with variations in the Winter eli
~ ~ OF Norway, the crops and other inn
portant conditions
crI; closely following the changes in the
bo un stream from year to year we have
VAN. dole to predict a long time in ad-
badae any great changes in the cod and
~ Nuock fisheries in the North Sea. as we'll
no. ,drlatons in the Winter climate of
m. w western Europe, with their effect upon
sa.sp pnouucts of the land during the next
ou viii remember that our great ma
,ars scientific authority on such mat
sar r. Nansen. declined the great honor of
do, ing as King Haakon's Minister to Lon
M III order that he might continue 10 be
a. 7Ieater service TO his countrvmen In
'eld of oceanographv