The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-13
sition while undergoing death and
freezing simultaneously.


freezing simultaneously.
Nansen recurs to a theory of geo.
physics which was once proposed ana
quite satisfactorily disposed Of. He has
scarcely entered the Yenisei when he
remarks the difference In it's banks; the
fiat land on the east Is comparatively
high and falls abruptly with a steep
bank to the river a steeply slopng
beach and relatively deep water outside;
the land on the west is strikngly low.
The author notes this difference no less
than three several times and supplies
this explanation:
There can be no DOUBT that this -
an effect of the earth's rotation, which
causes all water flowing in horizontal
direction to have a tendency TO go to
the right in the northern hemisphere,
and this tendency becomes stronger the
further north we go. This effect is par
ticuarly apparent In such broad rivers
as the Yenisei, where the waters within
its bed may flow at very different rates
of rapidly. 1t must naturally lead TO
the river digging out its channel deeper
on the right side of its bed. and also
to its wearing away the right bank
more than the left. In this way the
whole river bed has "A tendency TO move
gradually to the right. Now 1t is clear
that when great river flows through
q Hat country like northern Siberia the
effect of this must be that the river
bed is constantly on the move toward
the right until Il comes upon obstacles
which check this movement The re-
suit must he that in the course of ages
tho river leaves on its left side fiat
country, where it formerly had its bed
and where it has left its deposits and
on It's right IT will have higher land
into which 1t has not yet dug its way"
This explanation of the erosion point
in the Siberian streams was first sug-
gested by Won Baer and answered by
Zocppritz Now that it Is revived ii
calls for some attention. Nansen uses
this theory Of the Yensei. "A river flow
ing practically in the north direction.
therefore effectively at right angles to
the direction of the earth's rotation.
which IL is to he remembered Is from
west to east. Any north-south stream
must offer the minimum water surface
to be acted upon by this element of ~
tation. namely the width of the stream.
We likewise find that any such force
any point remote poleward thercfrom.
despite Nansen's statement to the con-
trary We have. next, two considerable
bodies OF water at the equator. the At
lantlc and Pacific Oceans respectively.
and the Indian Ocean may he thrown
in for good measure though less extern
sive These bodies expose a breadth of
several thousands Of miles To this in
flucncc instead of the width Of from one
and a half to thirty miles of the Eenisci.
II this theory he valid We should find
the African coast being steadily ahradcd
by the eastward movement Of the At
lantiC, tho coast of Ecuador subject to
the erosion of the Pacific. AZ matter
of fact each body of water has a set
20 the westward measurable by from
four TO ten miles the hour. If this ho
the true explanation Of the eastward
erosion % the Ncnisoi it should he
river. We have no record that such is
the case IN the Nile. i has been sug-
cestcd hat tho OrinoCo * crodinC west
ward. the Mississippi Missouri we know
to have moved westward in the prairie
section Of its bed. the same is true of
the Mackenzie. which is most Complr-
able with the Neuisci in latitude. ON
tho two grounds thus sketched We in
cline To disagree with Nansen'S eNpla-
reCurs Ia Il IN explanation Of the differ
Cncc Of the banks NJ the Amur. in gem
cral an cast-wcst stream.