Evening star., 1932-05-22
URGESSEA GAUGES
TO WARN OF FLOOD
DR.. Humphreys Sees Need of
Check on Melting
at Poles.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

Esta blishment of observing stations
on islands in the Pacific and Indian
Oceans to determine whether the
earth is facing another floor or an
other ice-age was advocated before the
Washington Philosophical Soc1 ct
meeting at the Cosmos Club last night
by Dr. William J. Humphreys OF the
Weather Bureau.
Early this month DR.. Humphreys de-
clared before a meeting of meteorolo-
gists here that the melting of the Arc
tic and Antarctic ice-caps-covering
more than 100000 square miles and
in places more than a mile deep
would result in raising the sea-level so
that the worlds great coastal cities
would be under water. The actual ten
dency, he said, seemed to be toward
melting of this ice at cumulative
rate.
Observations Difficult.
Actually, Dr. Humphreys said last
night, it is impossible to tell from
purely theoretical considerations
whether this is happening. If the ice
is melting it should be raising the sea
level the world over at present rate
of something under an eighth OF an
inch year. But observations on con-
tinental coasts, he said, cannot show
IIllS WIFI ~ oSp AAANAo
urements are difficult because of the
turbulence Of the sea, extremely. COM
plicated tidal phenomena, and the
changing contour of the land. More
important still is the fact that the
coasts themselves may be rising or
sinking sufficient to compensate Tor
any actual change in sea level.
But, DR.. Humphreys said, small is
lands can be found in the compare
lively quiet Southern seas which PROB
ably are stabilized. Comparatively
level, they do not suffer from the dis-
t1lrbing effects of erosion. Their altl-
tudes "stay put" If the sea level.
measured with respect to these alti-
tudes, is changing in the same direc-
ton at several stations 1t would be
conclusive evidence that very great
changes actually are taking place.
Stations on four or five Of these
islands, DR.. Humphreys said, could be
established at q relatively low cost ana
would not require highly trained at
tendants. 1t would be sufficient II they
were visited at intervals. Gauges would
make automatic records. II tendency
was shown at all the stations for the
sea level to become higher at regular
rate. it would be evidence the great
ice caps actually were melting and pour
ing immense quantities of water INTO
the oceans.
Mere Evidence Needed.
II the sea level was decreasing, 1t
would mean that the ice caps were TAX
ing more and more water out OF the
oceanic circulation, so that, assuming
that this trend would be cumulative,
another ice age would be in prospect
for the continents. Such evidence as
can be obtained indicates that this Is
not taking place.
At the worst, Dr. Humphreys pointed
out. the great flood Is a long way on.
If the ice is melting at rate sufnclent
to raise the sea levels an eighth OF an
inch a year and this rate continued,
without change, it would be about $4,000
wears before the flood reached its maxi
mum of about $50 feet, sufficient to in
undate all but the highest buildings In
most Of the great cities of North Amer
ica and Europe.
The island observing stations, DR..
Humphreys said, would be able to gather
much incidental data which would
be of great value to meteorologists ana
eeophysicists, so that the cost probably
would be justified even aside from de-
termination of the meteorological trend
Of the age.