Evening star., 1926-06-03

and meteorological experts. declared
before the flight that. due to the very
changing weather between noithern
Norway and SpitZbereeu. the flight
over This stage would he the most
risky Of the whole expedition, hut II
proved that this WAS \ mistake. The
transpolar fight itself by far being
he worst. However. there are many
reasons that can explain the above
mentioned point nf view. And. in
deed. flying 'over the Arctic ocea n
between Norway and SptzberGen is
risky.
Predictions in North Difficult.
Landing conditions At Spitzbercen
had 10 he forecast in Leningrad two
days before the arrival At SpitZhergen.
and such long progresses are very
difficult to make. especially in north
ern regions. where there are only a
few telesraphic meteorological sta
tiors. The ocean between Norway
and Spitzhercen is also Very fncEN
and stormy. but. due Ia the very
we'll orga nZed meteorological service
in Leningrad. the expedition sue.
ceeded In choosing a good day for the
start.
During this part Of the flight. The
expedition got. in addition tn The ordi-
nary broadcast weather report from
The various stations in Northern and
Western European countries. Wea ther
observations every hour especially
adapted for The use of the Norge.
They were sent every hour from
Spitzhersen. northern Norway. and
from two small islands far from land
in the Arctic Ocean Ia nmaYen and
Bear lSla nd
These reports proved tn he very
valuable for the Fight from Norwa =
to Sritzhercen. where tho weather
was rather bad there heinc sonre
snowfall At the South Cape. How
ever. II was noticed. to the great sat
isfaction of the members of the ok
pedition. that the snow did no harm
10 the ship
The kilograms from Spitzhergen in
formed the expedition that some snow
was falling at the landing place In
Kings Bay. but only in squalls. SC
that the ship could hope to have
good visibility between the squalls.
This proved to he correct. the
weather at the landing heing pretty
good. At SpitZhergen. the Norge s
met eorologist had to establish his own
weather service that stood in init
mate contact with, the government s
forest service at Tromsoe. in north
ern Norway.
Weather Forecast in Polar Stage.
The kilograms for this service Were
partly received by the Heimdal, a
Norwegian Gunboat that was de
tached to Spitzbergen 10 assist the
eYpedition. and partly by the wireless
Al Kings Bay that was hired by the
Aero Club for the benefit Of the ex
| C,nnntico1 were
drawn three times day
The met eorologists AT Kings Ia!
2 nd, Tromsoe together had to fix the
most favorable hour for the start
| And there were many meteorologlca
| factors to care for on the last part OF
the Hicht. A clear sky was wanted
with good visibility and favorable
| wind. The expedition also wanted a
| high barometric pressure and low
temperature.
| The last two elements Influenced
greatly the lifting capacity of the
dirigihle. For each degree Fahrenheit
that the temperature went down. the
Norge gained 80 pounds in liftins
capacity. that was increased with lac
| mounds for each tenth of an incl
| added to the barometric pressure.
Perfect Polar Weather Assured.
We had to wait some days AT Kings
BAY before the ship was fitted out 70,
| the long flight. During these days the
weather situation was good. as was
reported by Commander Byrd. wh'
| one of those days flew to the Nortf
| Pole and hack again In beautiful
| weather.
! Every day the wind in the height,
was determined by pilot balloon ascen
| sions. This work was carried out b,
an Italian scientist a brother of Col
| Mobile.
AT Kings Bay there was also an al,
electrical expert from, the Radio Insti
tute in Prague. DR.. Behounek. H,
| brought with him an iona spiretor tha
was placed in the Norse's cabin The
| instrument gave good service durint
| he polar flight and added good dea
TO the scientific results obtained b,
| the expedition.
On May 10 all work on board wa.
! finished. and after that day the star
depended only upon weather condi
| tions. The situation seemed good.
From Novaia Semlja to southwest
Canada there was high pressur,
that probably would last for man,
days. Spitzbergen was at the western
boundary OF the area. which mean
favorable winds. at least to the Pole