BY ROALD AMUNDSEN. and Some Astonishing Meteorological Ficulty

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

BY ROALD AMUNDSEN. and Some Astonishing Meteorological Ficulty I t HÈ IBUNE, F R i DAŸV MARCH Ö, M t — ----------■— 11 ' ' * wm* we miuietheUterestlng discoverythat lag was to be seen, b u ti? « felt' that, to be at the pole on Dec. 14 in the aft­ the Bom barrier terminated 'In a bight contrary to expcctatioas.we werego- ernoon. toward the southeast at 86 degrees ing fast down hill. The hypsometer The Pole Attained. south latitude and 163 degrees west gave us that day a descent of 600 feet longitude, formed between the south­ We continued our march the next That day was a beautiful one—a light east mountain range running from day in a gale, and a dense snowdrift breeze from southeast, the temperature South Victoria land and a range on got our faces badly frozen. We could minus 23 Celsius (9.4 degrees below the opposite side running in a south­ see nothing. We reached that day 86 zero F.)t and the groiind and sledging westerly direction—probably a continu­ degrees, dead reckoning. The • hyp- were perfect. ' The day went along as The Explorer and Four The Pole Surrounded by a ation of King EdWhrd VII. land. someter indicated a fall of 800 feet. usual, and at 3 p. m, we made a halt. Companions With Fifty- Vast Plateau Named In On the 13th we reached 84 degrees, The next day was similar. The "According to our reckoning, we had where we established a depot: on the weather cleared a little at dinner time reached our, destination. All of us two Dogs Climb Over Ice King Haakon’s Honor. 16th we were at So degrees, where also and exposed to our view a mighty gathered around the colors—a beauti­ Mountains to the Pole. Three Days Spent at we made a depot. mountain range to the cast and not far ful silk flag—all hands taking hold of Point Farthest South. From our winter quarters, “Fram- off only for a moment, and then it dis­ it and planting it. New Range of Mountains helm,” 78 degrees 38 minutes south lat­ appeared in the dense snowdrift. The vast plateau on which the pole Located. “ Devil's Dancing Room." itude, we had been marching due On the 29th it calmed down and the is standing got the name of the “King south. On the 17th of November, at 85 sun shone, though it was not the only Haakon VII. plateau.” It is a vast degrees, we arrived at a place where pleasant surprise he gave. In our plain, alike in all directions. Mile aft­ the land and harrier were connected. course stretched a big glacier running er mile during the night we circled scientific work as possible was done, This was done without any great dif­ toward the south. At its eastern end around the camp. BY ROALD AMUNDSEN. and some astonishing meteorological ficulty. The barrier here rises In un­ was the mountain range going in a In the fine weather we spent the fol­ Copyright, 1912, by th# Now York Timoa observations were taken. Company. dulations to about 300 feet. Some few southeasterly direction. Of the west­ lowing day taking a series of observa­ tions from 0 a. m. to 7 p. m. The re­ [All rights reserved.] Open Water All Winter. big crevices indicated the limited ern part of it no view was to be had, it boundary. being hidden In the dense fog. At the sult gave us 89 degrees 55 minutes. OBART, Tasmania, March 8, There was very little snow, and Here we made our head depot, tak­ foot of this glacier, the Devil’s glacier, In order to observe the pole as close 11:20 a. m.—On the 10th of there was open water close by through­ ing provisions for sixty days on a depot for six days was established, at as possible we traveled as near, south February, 1911, we commenc­ out the winter. For the same reason sledges and leaving thirty days’ pro­ Hed to work our way toward higher temperature had been expected, visions on the spot. the south, from that day to the 11th but it remained very low. In five months there were observed of April establishing three depots, A Difficult Climb. temperatures between minus 50 and IWhlch In all contained a quantity of The land under which we lay and 60 degrees Celsius (58 and 78 degrees provisions of about 3,000 kilos. One which we now had to attack looked below zero F.), the lowest tempera­ thousand six hundred kilos, including quite Imposing. The nearest summits ture, on the 13th of August, being along the barrier had a height of from 1,100 kilos of seal meat, were cached minus 59 degrees Celsius. It was then 2.000 to 10,000 feet, but several others in 80 degrees, 700 kilos in 81 degrees est south latitude attained was 78 de­ calm. On Aug. 1 the temperature was further south were 15,000 feet or more. iand 800 kilos in 82 degrees south lati­ grees 41 minutes. minus 58 degrees Celsius, and there The next day we began the climb. Before the arrival of winter we had tude. were six meters of wind. The mean The first part of it was an easy task - 8,000 kilos of seal meat In the depots, i As no landmarks were to be seen, temperature for the year was minus light stops and well filled mountain enough for ourselves and 110 dogs. these depots were marked with flags 28 degrees Celsius (14.8 below zero F.). Bides. It did not take a long time, for Eight dog houses, a combination of «even kilometers on each side In the I had expected hurricane after hur­ our willing dogs worked their way up. tents and snow huts were built. ricane, but I observed only two mod­ easterly and westerly directions. Further up we met with some small erate storms and many excellent auro­ ! The ground and the state of the bar­ Winter on the Ice Barrier. but very steep glaciers. Here we had ra australis In all directions. to harness twenty dogs to each sledge rier were of the best and specially well Having cared for the dogs, the turn The sanitary conditions were of the and take the four sledges in two turns. adapted to driving with dogs. On Feb. came to use our solid little hut. It best all the winter, and when the sun In some places It was so steep that it 15 we had thus traveled about a hun­ was almost entirely covered with snow returned on Aug. 24 we met the men was difficult enough to use our skis. dred kilometers. The weight of the by the middle of April. First we had sound In mind and body, ready to set Some big crevices forced us from ■ledges was 3Q0 kilos, and the number to get light and air. The Lux lamp, about the task that had to be solved. time to time to make detours. The first of dogs was six for each sledge. The which had a power of 200 standard Already, the day before, we had day we climbed 2,000 feet, the next brought our sledges to the starting day mostly up some small glaciers, place for our march toward the south. camping* at a height of 4,500 feet. The Only In the beginning of September third day we were obliged to go down Captain Roald Amundsen, First Man did the temperature rise to such an on a’ mighty glacier, “ Axel Heiberg’s extent that there was any question of glacier,” which divided the coast to Reach the South Pole. setting out. mountains and the mountains further First Start For the Pole. south. The next day began the longest part On Sept. 8 eight men, with seven of our climb. Many detours had to be sledges, ninety dogs and provisions for made In order to avoid broad cracks four months, started. The ground was and open crevices. These were appar perfect. The temperature was not bad. ently mostly filled up, ns the glaciers The next day it appeared that we had in all probability had long ago stopped started too early, as the temperature of moving, but we had to be very care the following days fell and was kept ful, never knowing for certain how steady between minus 50 and 60 Cel­ thick was the layer that covered them sius (58 degrees and 70 degrees below Our camp that night lay in very pic zero F.). Personally, we did not suf­ turesque surroundings at a height of fer at all from this cold. Our good furs 5.000 feet. The glacier here was nnr protected us. But with our dogs it was rowed in between the two 15,000 feet a different matter. It would easily bo high mountains, the “ Fridtjof Nansen” seen that they shrunk from day to day, and the “ Don Pedro Christophersen.” and we understood pretty soon that From the bottom of the glacier rose they could not stand the long run to Mount “ Ole Englstad,” a big snow our depot at 80 degrees south. cone 13,500 feet high. MAP SHOWING AMUNDSEN’S E0UTE TO THE SOUTH POLE. We agreed on returning and to wait for the arrival of spring. The provi­ Day’s Splendid Work. sions were cached, and off we went for 86.21 degrees south latitude. The hyp­ as possible the remaining nine kilome­ thq hut. With the exception of the The glacier was very much broken someter Indicated 8,000 feet above sea ters.
Recommended publications
  • The South Polar Race Medal
    The South Polar Race Medal Created by Danuta Solowiej The way to the South Pole / Sydpolen. Roald Amundsen’s track is in Red and Captain Scott’s track is in Green. The South Polar Race Medal Roald Amundsen and his team reaching the Sydpolen on 14 Desember 1911. (Obverse) Captain R. F. Scott, RN and his team reaching the South Pole on 17 January 1912. (Reverse) Created by Danuta Solowiej Published by Sim Comfort Associates 29 March 2012 Background The 100th anniversary of man’s first attainment of the South Pole recalls a story of two iron-willed explorers committed to their final race for the ultimate prize, which resulted in both triumph and tragedy. In July 1895, the International Geographical Congress met in Lon- don and opened Antarctica’s portal by deciding that the southern- most continent would become the primary focus of new explora- tion. Indeed, Antarctica is the only such land mass in our world where man has ventured and not found man. Up until that time, no one had explored the hinterland of the frozen continent, and even the vast majority of its coastline was still unknown. The meet- ing touched off a flurry of activity, and soon thereafter national expeditions and private ventures started organizing: the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration had begun, and the attainment of the South Pole became the pinnacle of that age. Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen (1872-1928) nurtured at an early age a strong desire to be an explorer in his snowy Norwegian surroundings, and later sailed on an Arctic sealing voyage.
    [Show full text]
  • Antarctic Primer
    Antarctic Primer By Nigel Sitwell, Tom Ritchie & Gary Miller By Nigel Sitwell, Tom Ritchie & Gary Miller Designed by: Olivia Young, Aurora Expeditions October 2018 Cover image © I.Tortosa Morgan Suite 12, Level 2 35 Buckingham Street Surry Hills, Sydney NSW 2010, Australia To anyone who goes to the Antarctic, there is a tremendous appeal, an unparalleled combination of grandeur, beauty, vastness, loneliness, and malevolence —all of which sound terribly melodramatic — but which truly convey the actual feeling of Antarctica. Where else in the world are all of these descriptions really true? —Captain T.L.M. Sunter, ‘The Antarctic Century Newsletter ANTARCTIC PRIMER 2018 | 3 CONTENTS I. CONSERVING ANTARCTICA Guidance for Visitors to the Antarctic Antarctica’s Historic Heritage South Georgia Biosecurity II. THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT Antarctica The Southern Ocean The Continent Climate Atmospheric Phenomena The Ozone Hole Climate Change Sea Ice The Antarctic Ice Cap Icebergs A Short Glossary of Ice Terms III. THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT Life in Antarctica Adapting to the Cold The Kingdom of Krill IV. THE WILDLIFE Antarctic Squids Antarctic Fishes Antarctic Birds Antarctic Seals Antarctic Whales 4 AURORA EXPEDITIONS | Pioneering expedition travel to the heart of nature. CONTENTS V. EXPLORERS AND SCIENTISTS The Exploration of Antarctica The Antarctic Treaty VI. PLACES YOU MAY VISIT South Shetland Islands Antarctic Peninsula Weddell Sea South Orkney Islands South Georgia The Falkland Islands South Sandwich Islands The Historic Ross Sea Sector Commonwealth Bay VII. FURTHER READING VIII. WILDLIFE CHECKLISTS ANTARCTIC PRIMER 2018 | 5 Adélie penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula I. CONSERVING ANTARCTICA Antarctica is the largest wilderness area on earth, a place that must be preserved in its present, virtually pristine state.
    [Show full text]
  • Representations of Antarctic Exploration by Lesser Known Heroic Era Photographers
    Filtering ‘ways of seeing’ through their lenses: representations of Antarctic exploration by lesser known Heroic Era photographers. Patricia Margaret Millar B.A. (1972), B.Ed. (Hons) (1999), Ph.D. (Ed.) (2005), B.Ant.Stud. (Hons) (2009) Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science – Social Sciences. University of Tasmania 2013 This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for a degree or diploma by the University or any other institution, except by way of background information and duly acknowledged in the thesis, and to the best of my knowledge and belief no material previously published or written by another person except where due acknowledgement is made in the text of the thesis. ………………………………….. ………………….. Patricia Margaret Millar Date This thesis may be made available for loan and limited copying in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. ………………………………….. ………………….. Patricia Margaret Millar Date ii Abstract Photographers made a major contribution to the recording of the Heroic Era of Antarctic exploration. By far the best known photographers were the professionals, Herbert Ponting and Frank Hurley, hired to photograph British and Australasian expeditions. But a great number of photographs were also taken on Belgian, German, Swedish, French, Norwegian and Japanese expeditions. These were taken by amateurs, sometimes designated official photographers, often scientists recording their research. Apart from a few Pole-reaching images from the Norwegian expedition, these lesser known expedition photographers and their work seldom feature in the scholarly literature on the Heroic Era, but they, too, have their importance. They played a vital role in the growing understanding and advancement of Antarctic science; they provided visual evidence of their nation’s determination to penetrate the polar unknown; and they played a formative role in public perceptions of Antarctic geopolitics.
    [Show full text]
  • Scurvy? Is a Certain There Amount of Medical Sure, for Know That Sheds Light on These Questions
    J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2013; 43:175–81 Paper http://dx.doi.org/10.4997/JRCPE.2013.217 © 2013 Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh The role of scurvy in Scott’s return from the South Pole AR Butler Honorary Professor of Medical Science, Medical School, University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK ABSTRACT Scurvy, caused by lack of vitamin C, was a major problem for polar Correspondence to AR Butler, explorers. It may have contributed to the general ill-health of the members of Purdie Building, University of St Andrews, Scott’s polar party in 1912 but their deaths are more likely to have been caused by St Andrews KY16 9ST, a combination of frostbite, malnutrition and hypothermia. Some have argued that Scotland, UK Oates’s war wound in particular suffered dehiscence caused by a lack of vitamin C, but there is little evidence to support this. At the time, many doctors in Britain tel. +44 (0)1334 474720 overlooked the results of the experiments by Axel Holst and Theodor Frølich e-mail [email protected] which showed the effects of nutritional deficiencies and continued to accept the view, championed by Sir Almroth Wright, that polar scurvy was due to ptomaine poisoning from tainted pemmican. Because of this, any advice given to Scott during his preparations would probably not have helped him minimise the effect of scurvy on the members of his party. KEYWORDS Polar exploration, scurvy, Robert Falcon Scott, Lawrence Oates DECLaratIONS OF INTERESTS No conflicts of interest declared. INTRODUCTION The year 2012 marked the centenary of Robert
    [Show full text]
  • Polar Geography the Historical Development of Mcmurdo Station
    This article was downloaded by: [Texas A&M University] On: 19 August 2010 Access details: Access Details: [subscription number 915031382] Publisher Taylor & Francis Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37- 41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Polar Geography Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t781223423 The historical development of McMurdo station, Antarctica, an environmental perspective Andrew G. Kleina; Mahlon C. Kennicutt IIb; Gary A. Wolffb; Steve T. Sweetb; Tiffany Bloxoma; Dianna A. Gielstraa; Marietta Cleckleyc a Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA b Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas A&M, College Station, TX, USA c Uniondale High School, Uniondale, New York, USA To cite this Article Klein, Andrew G. , Kennicutt II, Mahlon C. , Wolff, Gary A. , Sweet, Steve T. , Bloxom, Tiffany , Gielstra, Dianna A. and Cleckley, Marietta(2008) 'The historical development of McMurdo station, Antarctica, an environmental perspective', Polar Geography, 31: 3, 119 — 144 To link to this Article: DOI: 10.1080/10889370802579856 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10889370802579856 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Full terms and conditions of use: http://www.informaworld.com/terms-and-conditions-of-access.pdf This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling, loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date.
    [Show full text]
  • Jég És Föld Között Az Antarktisz (Újra)Felfedezése Antarktisz.Qxd 21.4.2005 14:15 Page 3
    Antarktisz.qxd 21.4.2005 14:15 Page 1 František Kele – Fekete László Jég és föld között Az Antarktisz (újra)felfedezése Antarktisz.qxd 21.4.2005 14:15 Page 3 František Kele – Fekete László Jég és föld között Az Antarktisz (újra)felfedezése NAP Kiadó Dunaszerdahely, 2003 Antarktisz.qxd 21.4.2005 14:15 Page 4 A kötet megjelenését a Szlovák Köztársaság Kulturális Minisztériuma támogatta. Kniha vyšla s finančnou podporou Ministerstva kultúry SR. A fordítás F. Kele – L. Fekete: (Znovu)objavovanie Antarktídy című kiadványa alapján készült. Fordította Tóth Mihály © František Kele, Fekete László, 2003 © Fényképek: František Kele, Fekete László Hungarian translation © Tóth Mihály, 2003 ISBN Antarktisz.qxd 21.4.2005 14:15 Page 5 „Nem láttam még ennél szebb és vadregényesebb tájat...” Roald Amundsen Antarktiszi utunk Martin Kukučín* és Milan Rastislav Štefánik** emléke előtt tisztelegve valósult meg. E könyvet azoknak ajánljuk, akik a múltban bármikor az Antarktiszon dolgoztak. Köszönet mindazoknak, akik segítettek az „UNION – AntArktis 2000” expedíció megvalósításában. * Martin Kukučín (1860, Jaszenova, Árva vármegye – 1928, Lipik, Horvátország) – a szlovák realista széppróza egyik legkiemelkedőbb képviselője, tanár, orvos, eredeti nevén Matej Bencúr. Fő művén, a Dom v stráni (A Pretur ház, Farkas I. ford., 1935; Ház a hegyoldalban, Hubik I. ford., 1956) című regényen kívül több kötete is megjelent magyarul. 1908-ban horvát feleségével együtt kivándorolt Dél-Amerikába, s ott Buenos Airesben, Santiagóban és Punta Arenasban a vele együtt hontalanná vált horvátok orvosa volt. ** Milan Rastislav Štefánik (1880, Kosaras, Nyitra vármegye – 1919, Pozsonyszőlős) – szlovák csillagász, francia, csehszlovák tábornok, diplomata, az olasz- és oroszországi, valamint a franciaországi és amerikai csehszlovák légiók szervezője. Az ideiglenes csehszlovák kormány, majd az első csehszlovák kormány hadügyminisztere.
    [Show full text]
  • Biting Adventures of Polar Exploration Captivating Reads from the World's Leading Polar Bookstore the World's
    The World’s Coolest Stories Biting Adventures of polar exploration Captivating reads from THe World’s leading polar bookstore ‘He was lucky.’ Roald Amundsen: The Northwest Passage ‘They found the easy route to the Pole.’ His personal diaries from the Gjøa expedition, 1900–1905 in two volumes ‘Amundsen’s claim might be fraudulent.’ t the turn of a new century Roald Amundsen diaries Roald Amundsen’s n presenting with great pleasure Roald Amundsen’s personal THE FRAM MUSEUM PRESENTS Idiaries from the Gjøa Expedition this is not just a big moment Geir O. Kløver: beganfor histhe Fram preparationsMuseum, but also an important contribution for to thethe conquest of the A dissemination of Norwegian and Canadian polar history. Roald Amundsen’s Roald Amundsen writes with great enthusiasm about the enormous Lessons from the Arctic Northwest effortsPassage, he and his crew are making which in dealing with scientifichad research eluded sailors for and Amundsen’s own studies of the Inuit and their way of life around diaries Gjoa Haven, Nunavut. After reading the diaries we know so much about the expedition, about life aboard Gjøa and among the Inuit centuries. Name: Roald Amundsen that it feels as if we have partaken in the expedition ourselves. Age: 34 Position: Captain, Amundsen is generous in his descriptions of his comrades and treats How Roald Amundsen won the race Expedition Leader all contact with, and all the information from, the Inuit with great respect. In addition, he emerges as an unprecedented planner of When: 1903 – 1905 an expedition through the Northwest Passage. After four hundred Where: The Northwest The Northwest Passage 190 to the South Pole through meticulous These unabridgedyears of attempts to solve thediaries puzzle of the Passage, are his expedition the Passage thoughts of the took place exactly as he presented his plan to the Norwegian planning and preparations over world’s mostGeographical successful Society in 1901, more than 18polar months before theexplorer departure with Gjøa.
    [Show full text]
  • El Mejor Amigo Del Hombre En La Antartida
    EL MEJOR AMIGO DEL HOMBRE EN LA ANTARTIDA 1898 - 1922 1 Dedicatoria Hubo una perra de la raza Siberian Husky que se llamo: ERIKA YELDYIAK. Fue un regalo que me hicieron mis hijos Oscar y Ayelén. Como integrante de la familia se encargo de cuidar desde muy pequeños a mis nietos Brenda y Maximiliano, los que la usaron de juguete viviente. Fue la fundadora del criadero que se llamo “Tak Tuk” y lleno nuestra casa de alegría cada vez que nacían sus crías. En su rol de madre y luego abuela se entregaba a sus obligaciones con esmero, estaba en todos los detalles. Sociable en grado sumo, a la hora del almuerzo o de la cena se instalaba a mi derecha esperando que le diera algo de comer y cuando venían visitas quería participar de la reunión. Hoy en la distancia del tiempo la recuerdo levantando en las noches su hocico al cielo y aullando como lo hicieron sus ancestros. 2 Erika Yeldyiak a la derecha y su hijo Cris de Tak Tuk 3 INDICE EL MEJOR AMIGO DEL HOMBRE EN LA ANTARTIDA Prólogo. 5 Introducción 6 1. Carsten Egeberg Borchgrevink y la British Antartic Expedition de 1898 a 1900. 7 2. Erich Dagobert von Drygalski y La Primera Expedición Alemana al Polo Sur de 1901 a 1903. 8 3. Nils Otto Gustaf Nordenskjöld y la Expedición Sueca al Polo Sur de 1901 a 1904. 9 4. Robert Falcon Scott y la Expedición Nacional Británica a la Antártida de 1901 a 1904. 12 5. William Speirs Bruce y la Expedición Antártica Nacional Escocesa de 1902 a 1904.
    [Show full text]
  • A NTARCTIC Southpole-Sium
    N ORWAY A N D THE A N TARCTIC SouthPole-sium v.3 Oslo, Norway • 12-14 May 2017 Compiled and produced by Robert B. Stephenson. E & TP-32 2 Norway and the Antarctic 3 This edition of 100 copies was issued by The Erebus & Terror Press, Jaffrey, New Hampshire, for those attending the SouthPole-sium v.3 Oslo, Norway 12-14 May 2017. Printed at Savron Graphics Jaffrey, New Hampshire May 2017 ❦ 4 Norway and the Antarctic A Timeline to 2006 • Late 18th Vessels from several nations explore around the unknown century continent in the south, and seal hunting began on the islands around the Antarctic. • 1820 Probably the first sighting of land in Antarctica. The British Williams exploration party led by Captain William Smith discovered the northwest coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. The Russian Vostok and Mirnyy expedition led by Thaddeus Thadevich Bellingshausen sighted parts of the continental coast (Dronning Maud Land) without recognizing what they had seen. They discovered Peter I Island in January of 1821. • 1841 James Clark Ross sailed with the Erebus and the Terror through the ice in the Ross Sea, and mapped 900 kilometres of the coast. He discovered Ross Island and Mount Erebus. • 1892-93 Financed by Chr. Christensen from Sandefjord, C. A. Larsen sailed the Jason in search of new whaling grounds. The first fossils in Antarctica were discovered on Seymour Island, and the eastern part of the Antarctic Peninsula was explored to 68° 10’ S. Large stocks of whale were reported in the Antarctic and near South Georgia, and this discovery paved the way for the large-scale whaling industry and activity in the south.
    [Show full text]
  • Mcmurdo Station, Antarctica MASTER PLAN for WORLD’S COLDEST AIRPORT
    McMurdo Station, Antarctica MASTER PLAN FOR WORLD’S COLDEST AIRPORT Ty C. Sander, PE Vice President & Aviation Group Manager (BSCE ‘98) Andrew J. Bodine, PE, CM Project Manager (BSCE ‘11) Overview 1. Antarctica 2. Air Operations in Antarctica 3. Single Airfield Complex Master Plan Similar But Different • Air Passenger Terminal Similar But Different • Air Passenger Terminal Similar But Different • Air Passenger Terminal Antarctica: A Place of Extremes • Coldest • Driest • Windiest • Least Inhabited • Most Isolated • Harshest Antarctica: A Place of Extremes 5.4M Sq. Miles Antarctica: A Place of Extremes • 98% Ice Covered • 70% World’s Fresh Water • 6,000 ft Thick Why Antarctica? SCIENCE Unique Species Why Antarctica? SCIENCE Unique Species Why Antarctica? SCIENCE Unique Geology Why Antarctica? SCIENCE Unique Climate Why Antarctica? SCIENCE Unique Environment Antarctica Development • National Science Foundation – USAP – McMurdo 1955 • Farthest South Accessible by ship National Science Foundation (NSF) Operations US Stations: • Palmer • McMurdo • South Pole NSF Cycle of Operations at McMurdo • Austral Winter • Nearly 6 months of darkness • Skeleton Crew (~150) • Limited Maintenance/ Construction • No Transport Apr-Aug NSF Cycle of Operations at McMurdo Sep: Winfly Oct-Nov: Major Influx Dec-Jan: Peak Population 1,300 Continent 1,000 @ McMurdo Feb-Mar: Northern Migration Why Air Operations in Antarctica? Limited Options Sea transport 2 ships per year: Cargo, Fuel Led in by icebreaker Why Air Operations in Antarctica? • Land transport – No paved
    [Show full text]
  • Amundsen's 'South Pole': a Review Author(S): Hugh Robert Mill Review By: Hugh Robert Mill Source: the Geographical Journal, Vol
    Review: Amundsen's 'South Pole': A Review Author(s): Hugh Robert Mill Review by: Hugh Robert Mill Source: The Geographical Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 (Feb., 1913), pp. 148-151 Published by: geographicalj Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1778869 Accessed: 22-05-2016 02:01 UTC Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://about.jstor.org/terms JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Wiley, The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Geographical Journal This content downloaded from 132.77.150.148 on Sun, 22 May 2016 02:01:13 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 148 AMUXDSEN'S 'SOUTH POLE ': A REVIEW. of Qatar. Wadi Duwasir and Wadi Nejran, called in its lower course Wadi Aftanah, both disappear in Robu el Khali, and Jebel Tuwariq runs all the way to Bisha and the bend of Wadi Duwasir. The full report of his journey will be awaited with interest. AMUNDSEN'S <SOUTH POLE '; A REVIEW. By HUGH ROBERT MILL, D.Sc. The two beautiful volumes in which Captain Amundsen and his comrades tell the story of the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition of 1910-12 * have appeared in English garb with an almost incredible promptitude.
    [Show full text]
  • Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott: Amundsen’S Earlier Voyages and Experience
    Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott: Amundsen’s earlier voyages and experience. • Roald Amundsen joined the Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897–99) as first mate. • This expedition, led by Adrien de Gerlache using the ship the RV Belgica, became the first expedition to winter in Antarctica. Voyage in research vessel Belgica. • The Belgica, whether by mistake or design, became locked in the sea ice at 70°30′S off Alexander Island, west of the Antarctic Peninsula. • The crew endured a winter for which they were poorly prepared. • RV Belgica frozen in the ice, 1898. Gaining valuable experience. • By Amundsen's own estimation, the doctor for the expedition, the American Frederick Cook, probably saved the crew from scurvy by hunting for animals and feeding the crew fresh meat • In cases where citrus fruits are lacking, fresh meat from animals that make their own vitamin C (which most do) contains enough of the vitamin to prevent scurvy, and even partly treat it. • This was an important lesson for Amundsen's future expeditions. Frederick Cook с. 1906. Another successful voyage. • In 1903, Amundsen led the first expedition to successfully traverse Canada's Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. • He planned a small expedition of six men in a 45-ton fishing vessel, Gjøa, in order to have flexibility. Gjøa today. Sailing westward. • His ship had relatively shallow draft. This was important since the depth of the sea was about a metre in some places. • His technique was to use a small ship and hug the coast. Amundsen had the ship outfitted with a small gasoline engine.
    [Show full text]