Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23


out OF the question because Of the i'm
possibility OF seeing either the horizon
or the snow surface. The complete loss
of all landmarks in this milky OPAQUE
ness can hardly be imagined by those
who have not experienced It.
On January 20, however the sun
shone again and a flight was made
along the coast to Discovery Inlet and
then south 140 miles into the interior Of
the Barrier. About 100 miles south Of
the inlet pressure ridge suggesting the
presence of land beneath 1t was OBJ
served, and two of those in the plane
though they saw rock in this pressure.
The others were not certain, however,
that the rock existed although this
pressure was unmistakable. Admiral
Byrd also felt sure that to the south the
Barrier rose considerably 300 or 400
feet above the surface at the point
where pressure existed. The interesting
thing about this indication Of pressure
was that it was almost due west of the
pressure area on the trail to the Queen
Maud Range.
That fight wound UP the seasons exc
ploration flights, as it was then too late
in the year and the weather was too
uncertain to hazard long flight to the
southeast. The total mileage Of the
planes for the two seasons flying was
about II 900 miles.
Geological Work.
The first geological investigations
were made in the Rockefeller Noun
tains when DR.. Gould was flown there
by airplane late last season. He found
that the mountains were apparently Of
the same nature as the Alexandra
Range, composed Of GRANTEES and asso-
ciated rocks.
The main geological work Of the ex-
petition, however, was the southern
trip to the Queen Maud Mountains.
This was one Of the longest sledging
journeys for q strictly scientific pur-
pose ever made, covering in all, tnclud-
ing the preliminary journey, 1900 stat.
ute miles
The ice conditions, the rolling pres
sure waves and wide crevasSes at the
foot of the mountains we're carefully in
vestigated during the entire progress Of
the trip. One strange formation SINH
lar to the fluffy balls of snow seen by
Amundsen rolling across the surface
were also found by the geological party.
They were localized in one small area
and there formed like small cylinders,
so light that they crushed to powder
in the hand.
The first investigations Of rock were
on Mount Nansen. where beacon sand
stone was found showing a connection
with the mountains on the western side
Of Rcss Barrier. The party then turned
east and went across the position where
Carmen Land Is marked on the former
from the plane that this land did not
exist. Study Of the rocks and glaciers
were made on this eastern trip and
specimens obtained. The Barrier
stretched to the east and north as far
as could be seen from mountain near
the eastern end of the route.
The net result of these reconnais-
sance studies along more than 100 miles
Of the Queen Maud Range demonstrates
that their geology. including both the
character OF the rocks and their struc-
ture. is totally different from that
typified by Graham Land and the
Andes Mountains of South America.
From which 1t follows that &he theory
of the Andes being continued through
Graham Land and across the continent
into this range can no longer be held.
On the contrary the Summers studies
have demonstrated. both geographically
range Of block crystal uplifting on q
scale which Is unique in all the world
and which takes its rise far over on the
western side Of the Ross Sea Is con-
tinued In an unbroken feature at least
to the 135th meridian. In other words,
these studies having been undertaken
in such q critical area increase the
known length of the great mountain
system $50 miles.
Finally, the net result of the work Of
the two geological field parties, one In
King Edward VII Land and the other
in the Queen Maud Range, indicate
more clearly than has been known here
tofore the lack of structural and other
geological correspondence between Fast
and West Antarctica.
Physical and Magnetic Work.
Continuous Photographic records Of
the magnetic elements were made from
the end of May, 1929, to the end OF
January. 1880. period Of nine months.
These records were supplemented by
absolute measurements with different
instruments over the same periods. The
results indicated greatly disturbed
magnetic conditions The magnetic
defamation. which is the compass error
from the true north, was very large,
LOT degrees east, and the magnetic dip
8215 degrees. The observations corre-
Spond with the maximum OF very
important sun-spot cycle. which en-
hances the value of the work.
The magnetic work was done under
severe conditions and It Is doubtful If
any magnetic work has been done over
a considerable period at as low tenn
peratureS as obtained in the snow and
canvas houses where the instruments
were placed. The lowest temperature
in the magnetic house was 81 degrees
below zero Fahrenheit, and II averaged
about 20 degrees below for long period
of time.
The auroral record is very complete
and accurate and Is probably the most
R0HnnlofA gANtinY4 n era -
Aurora were seen on more than 90 per
cent of clear nights and suff1cient data
obtained to determined the chArac.
teristic types. color movement, intensity,
direction and frequency: Correlation
with the magnetic radio data should
form an interesting section Of the
general scientific results.
An investigation was made Of the
temperature and constitution of the
Barrier. The data from early Winter
to the end OF January are complete and
interesting. Particularly noticeable in
regard to subsurface temperatures Is the
sudden upward rise at the height Of
Summer. Sudden temperature changes
in the air during the rest of the year
have not produced this abrupt change
below the surface. The suns rays
actually penetrate the snow to some
depth. The heat obtained from the
sun was indicated by the way in which
dark objects sank in the snow tArs
paulin. Is feet square, sank inches ia
two sunny days.
In connection with the suns radia-
ton. observations have been made since
sunrise. The highest black bulb Their
mometer. thermometer which Is 50 ir-
sulated that 1t registers the amount of
heat radiated by the sun, was IFS de.
grees above zero Fahrenheit on DeceYnS
Der 20. 1t must be remembered that
this does not represent the actual ours
door temperature
Temperature records in UNDERGROUND
tunnels and snnu hiits are trafnrn.AA..a