AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION
1911-14
UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SIR DOUGLAb A\AWSON, O.B.E., DSc. B.E., P.R.S.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. SERIES B. VOL. III. METEOROLOGY.
TABULATED AND REDUCED RECORDS ' OF THE MACOUARIE ISLAND STATION
RECORDERS: G. F. A1NSWORTH, H. POWER, AND A. C. TULLOCH, Officers of the Commonwealth Meteorological Service assigned by Mr. H. A Hunt, Director, to conduct the observations. REDUCTION AND TABULATION OF DATA. By direction of Mr. H. A. Hunt, and under Superintendence or B. W. NEWMAN, Member of the Staff of the Commonwealth Meteorological Bureau.
WITH FOUR PLATES, TWO FIGURES IN TEXT, AND THIRTEEN TABLES,
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PRICE: FORTY SHILLINGS.
INTPD RV ALFRED JAMES KE.NT. GOVERNMENT PBINTER.PHllLIP-t-nWKT. SYDNEY 1029
ISSUED JUNE,: 1929. SERIES A—REPORTS.
HON. EDITOR: PROF. SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON", KT., D.SC., B.E., University of Adelaide.
VOL. PRIC». £ s. d. I. GEOGRAPHY AND PHYSIOGRAPHY. (In preparation.)
II. OCEANOGRAPHY. PART 1.—SEA-FLOOR DEPOSITS FROM SOUNDINGS— By FREDERICK CHAPMAN, ASS. Linn. SOC. (Lond.), F.R.M.S., III. GEOLOGY. (Adelie Land and King George Land.) PART 1.—THE METAMORPHIC ROCKS OF ADELIE LAND— By F. L, STILLWELL, D.SC, Aust. Antarc. Exped. Stafl 2 2 0 „ 2.—THE METAMORPHIC LIMESTONES OF COMMONWEALTH BAY, ADELIE LAND. By C. E. TILLEY, B.Sc 0 I' S ., 3.—THE DOLERITES OF KING GEORGE LAND AND ADELIE LAND. By W. R. BROWNE, D.SC, Lecturer, Geological Department, Sydney University 0 I , G , 4.—AMPHIBOLITES AND RELATED ROCKS FROM THE MORAINES, CAPE DENISON, ADELIE LAND. By F. L. STILLWELL, D.SC, Aust. Antarc. Exped. Staff 0 2 0 IV. GEOLOGY. (Will deal principdfly with Queen Mary Land.) (In preparation.) PART 1.—THE ADELIE LAND METEORITE— By P. G. W. BAYLY, F.I.O., and F. L. STILLWELL, D.SC 0 1 S V. GEOLOGY (Macquarie Island). (In preparation.) VI. GLACIOLOGY. (In preparation.) AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION 1911-14, UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OP SIR DOUGLAS MAWSON, O.B.E., D.-Sc, B.E., F.R.S. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS. SERIES B. VOL. III. METEOROLOGY. TABULATED AND REDUCED RECORDS OF THE MAGQUARIE ISLAND STATION. RECORDERS: G. F. AINSWORTH, H. POWER, AND A. C. TULLOCH, Officers of the Commonwealth Meteorological Service assigned by Mr. H. A. Hunt, Director, to conduct the observations. REDUCTION AND TABULATION OF DATA. By direction of Mr. H. A. Hunt, and under Superintendence of B. W. NEWMAN, Member of the Staff of the Commonwealth Meteorological Bureau. WITH FOUR PLATES, TWO FIGURES IN TEXT, AND THIRTEEN TABLES, PRICE: FORTY SHILLINGS. PRINTED BY ALFRED JAMES KENT, GOVERNMENT PRINTER. PHILLIP-STREET, SYDNEY.—1929. ISSUED JUNE, 1929. •964—A METEOROLOGY—MACQUABIE ISLAND STATION. PREFACE TO METEOROLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS. THIS is the first of.a series of volumes dealing with the Meteorological data accruing from the labours of the Expedition. It was not until the year 1923 that financial pro vision was made to cover 4;he cost of tabulation and reduction of the records. This was rendered possible through the good offices of Mr. H. A. Hunt, the Director of the Commonwealth Meteorological Service, who has fathered the Meteorological work of the Expedition from the inception of the enterprise. The tabulated data is so voluminous that it has been found convenient to publish it in three separate volumes namely Vols. Ill, IV, & V of Series B. The present Volume (Vol. Ill) incorporates the records of the Macquarie Island Station. Volume IV deals with the data of the Cape Denison Station, Adelie Land. Volume V includes first, the records of the Queen Mary Land Station ; secondly, the Meteorological loggings of the S. Y. Aurora made on three Antarctic and two Sub-antarc tic cruises ; thirdly, meteorological notes made on numerous sledging journies from the Antarctic Bases. The discussion of the records thus tabulated and printed will constitute a fourth volume. When organising the Expedition I found that nobody was more seized with the importance of extending meteorological observations in the Australasian Antarctic and Sub-antarctic than Mr. H. A. Hunb. The possible influence of that region upon the climate of the more temperate regions to the north was a problem of real interest to Australians and New Zealanders. There was already available much knowledge relating to the Koss Sea region, but practically nothing whatever of the immense region to the west, which is not only, nearer, but on account of its more westerly situation, is better placed in regard to Australia and New Zealand to exert influence over their climate. The Ross Sea region is in higher latitudes and on account of the prevailing west to east drift of anti-cyclonic disturbances, the disturbances thereabouts, in so far as exerting an effect upon the meteorological conditions in temperate latitudes, would be expected to exert a maximum influence only in regions to the east of New Zealand. In view of the importance of extending meteorological knowledge of the Southern Regions, therefore, Mr. Hunt heartily co-operated in the programme, and strongly recommended the establishment on Macquarie Island of a meteorological recording station with a wireless installation capable of despatching daily reports to Melbourne, 4 AUSTRALASIAN ANTASCTICT EXPEDITION. These reports were to be incorporated in the daily weather forecasts, with a view to ascertaining the value of such a station in that regard. Through Mr. Hunt, general instruc tions for meteorological records were drawn up and certain members of the expedition given short training in the work. The Expedition's meteorological programme, beside establishing a recording station on Macquarie_ Island^ and providing for loggings on board the ship, included the establishment of several scattered stations on the up-till then unknown sector of the Antarctic Continent between Cape Adare and Gauss Berg. -The securing of contemporaneous data from these widely scattered locations was a feature of importance which was further enhanced by the fact that Scott's Terra Nova Expedition and Amundsen's Fram Expedition to the Ross Sea were also operating during the early portion of our effort. In view of the immediate importance of the Macquarie Island Station, Mr. Hunt loaned one of his officers, Mr. G. F. Ainsworth, to act as meteorologist at the Island Station. Subsequently, on the expiration of the Expedition, Mr. Hunt decided to take over and continue that Station. Accordingly, after two years of never-failing vigour and duties splendidly executed, Mr. Ainsworth was relieved early in December, 1913, and his place taken by Mr. H. Power who, with two others, continued the Station for the Common wealth Meteorological Service. At the end of November, 1914, Mr. Power was relieved by Mr. A. C. Tulloch, the relief being effected by the Commonwealth Fisheries Steamer Endeavcur. On account of the war, so great difficulty was now experienced in securing a vessel for the annual relief of the Station that it was decided to temporarily close it. Ac cordingly Mr. A. C. Tulloch and his two campanions were withdrawn in December, 1915. OB the departure of Tulloch's party, the Living Hut with certain equipment and the wireless huts and their equipment and masts were left with the expectation of use at some 'future time. But the war dragged on so long and the financial strain became so great that all thoughts of continuing the Station faded away and has never again been realised. As the additional records secured by Mr. Hunt's Department during the regime of Messrs. Power and Tulloch are of very great value in the discussion of the Expedi tion's meteorological data, they have been made available and incorporated herewith. It is with deep regret that we recall the death of Harold Power who was lost on -board the Endeavour which disappeared with all hands on the return voyage from Macquarie Island, after landing Mr. Tulloch. The vessel and the entire crew disappeared in those tempestuous seas without leaving any trace. In that disaster Meteorological Science not only lost an enthusiast in Mr. Power but also the detailed observations accumulated by him throughout the year of his office which records were on board with him. All that remains of that period are the daily summaries communicated by him per wireless telegraph to the central Commonwealth Meteorological Office. At the Main Base Station in Antarctica, which was located at Cape Denison, Adelie Land, the meteorological instruments were erected as spor as possible after landing the METEOBOLOGY—MACQUARIE ISLAND STATION. 5 party. My previous experience in Antarctica was very beneficial in securing the best lay-out of the instruments to meet the exigencies of the special circumstances presented in so remarkable a climate. After the routine of recording was well established, Mr. C. T. Madigan was thereafter appointed Chief Meteorologist which post he occupied with great credit throughout the two.years occupation. The Meteorological Records were conducted with great system and perfect regularity throughout that time. The info m ation obtained is unique in that it deals with an area which, it would appear, is the most windy spot on the earth's surface. This is obviously owing to the situation of the Station on the seaward-sloping margin of an elevated circumpolar ice plateau of continental proportions. Under these circumstances, the incessant wind at low temperatures, the routine of observations and attention to the instruments was rendered particularly difficult and at times hazardous in the case of the more distant instruments. A general idea of the conditions experienced and of the difficulties which faced the meteorologist are recounted in " The Home of the Blizzard," the popular story of the Expedition. What is certain in my mind is that like difficulties have never yet been experienced in the same degree at any other meteorological station. The bare records in their unfailing regularity are an epic in meteorological achievement and confer a high degree of credit upon Mr. Madigan and his assistants. At the Queen Mary Land Station (the western base) a somewhat restricted pro gramme as compared with that operating at the Main Base and at Macquarie Island was conducted by Mr. M. H. Moyes, meteorologist in charge. Although he had not the scope offered at the other bases, owing to limitations in instruments and of assistance due to the smallness of the party, Moyes has supplied us with a twelve-month period of valuable records. This was a most creditable performance, especially in view of the fact that most of the energy of the Western Base Party was given to sledging efforts. On board the S. Y. Aurora a regular ship's meteorological log was maintained by the officers through all Antarctic and Sub-antarctic cruises. These voyages covered wide expanses of ocean concerning much of which accurate meteorological data were almost entirely wanting. The data accumulated at all these stations has now been elaborated for publication' the cost being defrayed by money granted for the purpose by the Commonwealth Govern ment to the Meteorological Bureau. For this work temporary clerical assistance had to be employed. Mr. Hunt arranged for the work of reduction and tabulation to be done at the Adelaide, and Mr. E. Bromley there in charge deputed supervision of the temporary clerks to Mr. B. W. Newman. In this work Mr. Newman took a great interest, but had a very unenviable task for some of the temporary clerks were unsuitable for the work' and the restrictions of the Public Service Act did not allow of free selection. This fact greatly delayed the work and called for an undue amount of checking. Many clerical errors were not detected until the tables were set up in print. Thus further delays arose and much work was thrown upon myself, Mr. C. T. Madigan, and my assistant, Mr. Brock, in checking the means in the tabulated data. 6 AUSTRALASIAN ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. The instruments used in this work at the various stations werejmncipally pur chased from the firm of Negretti and Zambra. Others were received on loan from the Commonwealth Meteorological Bureau and the Meteorological Office, London. Apart from a supreme indebtedness to Mr. H. A. Hunt for the large part played by him throughout, the accomplishment of the meteorological programme owes much to advice and assistance tendered by other authorities. Foremost amongst these is Sir Napier Shaw, Director of the British Meteorological Office at the time of our prepara tions. We should like to acknowledge here also the courtesy and assistance rendered by Mr. E. Bromley of the Commonwealth Meteorological Staff for advice received from time to time. We are also indebted to Dr. G. C. Simpson and Dr. F. J. W. WEipple of the British Meteorological .Office, and to Dr. H. R. Mill. D. MAWSON.