Evening star., 1930-05-02
Denmark, Germany, Russia.
Norway and Spain Plan Of
ficiaI Arctic Expeditions.
U. S., CANADA AND JAPAN
EXPECTED TO COOPERATE
Meteorological Directors Arrange
Program to Learn Magnetic
Changes Since 1882.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

The frozen North must give up its
secrets.
The world will undertake a co-opera-
tive effort to conquer the Arctic for
science in 1928, according to H. u.
Sverdrup. veteran Norwegian polar ex-
plorer, who addressed the American
Geophysical Union here today.
Already, he said, Denmark, Germany,
Russia, Norway and Spain are planning
official EXPEDITIONS as part Of the pro-
gram of the international polar year.
The United States, Canada, Japan and
most of the European nations are ex-
pected to establish Arctic observing sta
tions, but have not yet taken official
action.
It is so years since the last inter-
national polar year. Then the United
States sent out two expeditions, one to
Point Barrow, on the Arctic coast of
Alaska, and one to Lady Franklin Bay,
near the magnetic pole. The second,
commanded by Lieut.. A. w. Greely, be-
came a classic in the annals Of ex-
ploration. It consisted of IS men, who
were to remain one year in the Arctic,
takingmagnetic observations. Two re-
lief ships failed to get through the ice
to them. When the third, commanded
ceeded a year later, only seven men
were left alive. The rest had periShed
of cold and starvation. Gen. Greely Is
still living in Washington.
IL Countries Participated.
In all IA expeditions from IL different
countries participated, setting up ring
of stations around the magnetic pole.
Sverdrup expects greater cooperation
in the jubilee year. The observations
taken so years ago still are used and
weather forecasting and in the study
of the earth's magnetism. Much of the
worlds weather depends on conditions
in the Arctic, Sverdrup explained, but
these are not sufficiently known to base
spTecise forecasts upon them.
The jubilee year program Is being ar
ranged by an international committee
of meteorological directors who require
in their work information on the mag
netic changes since 1882, the completion
of magnetic maps, knowledge OF the dis
sons Of magnetic disturbances in the
Arctic and Antarctic, the observation OF
auroral magnetic disturbances and au-
roral phenomena regardless Of magnetic
conditions.
. It is planned to set up, Sverdrup said,
two sets of observing stations in both
the Arctic and Antarctic. One will cir
Gle the magnetic pole and the other
follow the magnetic meridian. In addi-
ton, the meteorological directors desire
a network of stations 100 miles apart to
study auroral phenomena. He said that
a pocket Spectroscope now is being de-
signed to detect auroral effects in day
light.
Plan to Reoccupy Stations.
There are already six magnetic sta
tions above so north latitude, Sverdrup
said, most of which have been retained
from the former polar year. It is
planned to reoccupy all other stations
set up in that year besides as many new
ones as possible. At least three men
will be required for each station. They
will be equipped with sounding balloons
for the study of astrological conditions.
In 1882, he said, the sector north of
North America was given over to the
United States and Canada with the
exception of single station set up by
Germany at Kinguafiord, of the Arctic
Coast. 1t probably will not be neces-
sary for the United States to reoccupy
the fatal camp at Lady Franklin Bay,
since Denmark is to set up a station
at Cape York in Greenland near enough
to take about the same observations.
He wants the United States to re-estab-
llsh the station at Point Barrow, the
northernmost settlement under the
American flag. 1t Is doubtful whether
Germany will care to 60 back to Kim
guafiord, in which case either the Unit
~ 10 kntr
Austria took the leadership In the
program half century ago. She prob
ably will have smaller part two years
/ hence. On the other hand, Russia plans
to set up several more stations than
before. The Antarctic will be included
this year. 1t is hoped, Sverdrup said,
that the great nations Of the Southern
Hemisphere, which have come into
prominence since the last international
polar year, such as Australia, Argentina
ana South Africa, will take over all the
work in this sector.
Resolution Asks u. S. Aid.
After DR.. Sverdrup's explanation the
union approved a resolution asking the
United States Government to cooperate
in sir the 1IIsSaIt polar yeSr yS plans: ..,,.
| and Antarctic explorer, this afternoon
will describe his projected submarine
voyage over the top of the world under
| the Arctic ice to the geophysicists and
| ask their advice on the scientific prob
| lens to be studied.
} This voyage, Sir Hubert said this
morning, he regards as the safest he
has ever undertaken in the polar re-
gions. He plans to start in July, 1881.
The primary object, he said, Is to To-
cate safe location for meteorological
observing station on the ice about TOO
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