Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-24
Complex Problems Are In
volved in Seeking
Explanation.
VALUABLE IN RADIO FIELD
Little America Is Called Ideal
Place for Work, Which
He Describes.
IN RADIO FIELD
BY FRANK T. DAVIES.

BY FRANK T. DAVIES,
Physicist of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition.
BY Radio to The Star Star and the New York
LITTLE AMERICA, Antarctic. The
practical importance Of the study OF
magnetic phenomena may not occur to
those who have little direct interest In
their effects. About the only time that
magnetic disturbances affect the ordi-
nary man is when fearful upset in the
great magnet earth ties up telegraph
lines or kills all sounds in radio loud
speakers, so that the evenings enter
tainment is spoiled. Magnetic storms
as they are called-of such severity are
rare.
The correlated scientific whole which
makes up our knowledge of the universe
is incomplete so long as any group of
phenomena is not understood. The" Is
much to learn about terrestrial m1'5-
netism, the lines of force which make
this earth of ours one huge magnet and
affect the compasSes of every vessel
which sails the seas, and therefore mag
netic observations form an important
part of the scientific work of eXpedi-
tions into the polar regions. Magnetic
observatories in many countries keep
continuous records of the variation of
the great amount of data thus collected
has not enabled us to give complete
explanation of magnetic phenomena
shows how complex are the problems
involved.
Since the development of radio
broadcasting, with its problems of re-
ception under varying conditions, the
exact relationship between magnetic
storms and the electrical condition of
the atmosphere has become a problem
Of the greatest importance.
Important Radio Questions.
Closely allied with these fields of
research is the explanation of auroral
displays. What causes the regular APP
pearance of certain types of aurora and
their direction of movement? Why do
they occur more frequently at some
places on the earth than at others?
What connection exists between aurora
and magnetic disturbances? Questions
are asked by radio engineers about diff
ferenceS of conditions between day and
night, one season and another, and the
effects of magnetic and electric storms
on radio conditions.
The best way to answer these ques-
tons Of the radio engineer, the mag
netician and the physicist is to investi-
gate these interrelated problems to-
gether. This is being done at many
stations on the globe. 1t is being done
by the Carnegie Institution of Wash
ington at stations in West Australia,
in the Andes, and elsewhere, and the
non-magnetic ship Carnegie is carrying
on the work over the seas.
But the places where such co-opera-
tive research can give most informa-
ton are the polar regions. Because
of the inaccessibility of these regions,
observations In the Arctic and still
more so in the Antarctic are few and
are conducted at wide intervals. Mag
netic storms are. much more intense
and frequent in the Antarctic than
elsewhere. Hence the underlying causes
Of the irregular, or storm, disturbances
as distinct from the regular seasonal
changes can best be studied in the
Antarctic.
Ideal Location for Study.
To understand magnetic problems
one must think of the earth as a great
magnet. the poles of which are not at
the north and south geographical
poles, but at points some distance re-
moved from them. The north mag
netic pole Is far inland on the edge of
the polar ocean and the south mag
netic pole is Tar inland on great ice
covered plateau, 1000 miles north OF
the geographical pole. From and be-
tween these magnetic poles how lines
of magnetic force, varying somewhat
according to. their position, shifting
from time to time according to laws not
thoroughly understood, and thereby
affecting the compasses of ships.
Near the magnetic pole variations
occur SO rapidly that it Is often impos-
sible for them to be recorded. Little
America Is an ideal location for such
work. 1t is $50 miles from the south
geographical pole and little further
from the south magnetic pole, which Is
in South Victoria Land in latitude "
degrees IS minutes south. Little Amer
lea Is 70 degrees "a minutes, degrees
further south. This makes our COM
pass needles point west-northwest in
stead of to the south. Little America
is far enough from the south magnetic
pole to allow accurate measurement OF
the magnetic elements to be continue
ouSly recorded. 1t is well situated with
regard to the belt of greatest auroral
frequency in the Southern Hemisphere
From previous observations in the
Arctic and the Antarctic 1t has been
found that maximum frequency docs
not occur at the magnetic poles, but
over regions situated several degrees
away from them.
The year 1929 is a particularly apt
time for magnetic electric observations
for the following reasons: 1t is known
that the values of magnetic elements
have, besides the seasonal and storm
variations, cycle of changes recurring
at periods of approximately ii years.
These are connected with the number
of sun spots or electrical storms on the
sun which follow the same period of
change, IL years. These electrical
storms on the surface of the sun are
also believed to be the direct cause Of
auroral displays.
The Time Favorable.
Our knowledge of magnetism and
electricity in the Antarctic is based
upon the observations of the German
expedition OF 1901 1903, the British exc
petitions of 1901-l904 and 19l0-19l3
and the Australian expedition Of 1911
1914. These happened to be periods
with a minimum number of sun spots.
We are now near a time of maximum
sun-spot frequency. and therefore OBJ
servations at this period will be of en-
HANGED value in forming comparison
with the earlier data.
1t is believed that certain differ