Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-24
RADIO REFLECTION
STUDIED NEAR POLE
Lieut.. M. P. Hanson Meas.
ures Kennedy Layer for
Byrd Expedition.

LITTLE AMERICA, Antarctica. July
24.-Measurements of the Kennedy
Heavyside layer, which affects the
propagation of radio waves by refiec-
ton, have been made by Lieut.. Malcolm
p. Hanson of the naval research labora-
tory with very satisfactory results. The
work entailed q trip 10 miles out on
the barrier in uncertain weather and
a stay there Of 90 hours while obserVa-
tions and photographs were made.
Hanson has been preparing tor this
trip for some time and will 90 several
times to continue the observations and
collect data under various seasonal con-
ditions. Plans and preparations for this
important work were made at the Naval
Research Laboratory months before the
expedition departed. The measurements
already made show that the layer is
much higher than in the United States,
that, in fact, a signal sent out and re-
hected downward travels several hun
dred miles. The photographs Hanson
has already developed show also re-
markable fluctuations, indicating rapid
movement of the rejecting layer De-
tailed study and celebration of the os-
kilograms will show just how high the
layer is, and also show some light on
bliC CpusSo vi NdIldblOIS III IdOlO waves
which prevail over the Antarctic.
10 Below Zero.
The first attempt to go out was made
during our recent spell of very cold
weather when the thermometer lowered
around 20 below and showed a desire
to stay there for several days. But
Hanson was eager to 60 and Comdr
Byrd was willing to assume the risk
because Of the valuable scientific results
to be obtained. but only after every
possible precaution was taken to insure
their safety. Wherever his men have
to take risks for furthering science, the
commander personally sees that every
possible thing is done to prevent mishap
The dogs noses froZe, however, be-
fore they could get started, and the trip
had to be postponed few days 1t was
desirable to use dogs, because the load
OF apparatus, tents, food and emergency
supplies weighed about 600 pounds.
There seemed to be nothing for it but
to manhaul the sleds for 10 miles. The
with flags for three miles and then,
fortunately. the weather became a little
warmer, and 1t was possible to start in
temperature of 40 below.
There were three men in the party,
Hanson, Joe Deganahl,> as navigator,
and Norman Vaughan in charge of four
dogs. Norman, who is husky fellow,
hitched himself ahead Of his dogs and
pulled on skis with them all the way
out and all the way back They left
about noon on Friday. The sky was
overcast, but the moon shone through
the clouds directly ahead of them in
the East, and was a great help in navi-
eating. Hanson had also rugged up q
searchlight attached to a small battery
and with this managed to pick up the
flags on the eastern trail.
Place Other Markers.
After passing the flags in the first
three miles, other flags were set up
about 500 feet apart, along the old trail
toward the Rockefeller Mountains. BY
a squint at the moon now and then and
allowing for its movement and Dega-
nah's checking up frequently with the
compass, a fairly straight trail was
made.
The way led over the rolling waves
of the barrier surface. which stretches
for some distance to the east, and in the
darkness it was difficult to tell whether
one was going up hill or down. They
reached the place where they decided
to camp about 5 o'clock in the after
noon and found to their surprise that
the weather had cleared enough SO
that when they looked back they could
see strong the electric beacon on the
radio tower, blinking at them. When
Carl Petersen, who was communicating
with Hanson from the base. heard from
them that they were at their destina-
ton he blinked goodnight in Morse
to them with the light and shut it off.
Two tents were set up, in one OF
which Deganahl and Vaughan slept,
and in the other Hanson placed his
many pieces of apparatus. There was
not enough room when he had every
thing in place for him to sleep il he
wanted to- but as he had "a hours of
hourly observation ahead of him he did
not worry about that. Once or twice
between observations he tried to curl
himself around a primus stove in the
middle of the tent, but after nearly
knocking over the batteries and other
pieces of apparatus he gave it up. His
things had been tested in a tent near
the base before the trip was begun and
many things changed so that operations
would not be affected by the cold.
Hanson found that frequently the re-
fected signals from the heavy side layer,
which travelled hundreds Of miles be-
fore reaching him, were more distinct
than the direct signals, and often sig
nails were so blurred by fading from in
reference that they were almost I'M
During this whole period he took os-
kilograms and photographs of the
queer things that were happening to the
waves, and obtained about $50 which
show the extraordinary variations to
which short-wave signals are subject.
AS conditions here affect short waves
which pass over the Antarctic between
any parts of the world, the photographs
may throw a good deal of light on
many puzzling phenomena. Sunlight
is believed to have a direct connection
with many phenomena connected with
the Kennelly-heavysid layer, and as
this is a period Of Winter darkness, he
will now be able to compare conditions
with those obtained as the sun returns
and during the 24-hour day.
DnnICC nE Dim pIINMEP