The Home of the Blizzard: Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914Mawson, Douglas, Sir
History
The Home of the Blizzard: Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914
Mawson, Douglas, Sir
Antarctica -- Discovery and exploration; Australasian Antarctic Expedition (1911-1914)
Regular meteorological observations began on February 1. The various
instruments had been unpacked as soon as the outer shell of the Hut was
completed. The barometer and barograph were kept running inside. Outside
there were two large screens for the reception of a number of the
instruments. It was important to erect these as near the Hut as
possible. The standard thermometer, thermograph and hygrograph were to
occupy one of the screens, a convenient site for which was chosen about
twenty yards to the east. Close by there was also a nephoscope for
determining the motion of clouds. The immediate vicinity of the Hut,
being a gully-like depression, was unsuitable for the wind and sunshine
recorders. A more distant site, on a rocky ridge to the east, was chosen
for these. There were set up a recording anemometer (wind-velocity
meter), a sunshine-meter and the second screen containing the anemograph
(wind-direction recorder).
Madigan was to take charge of the meteorological observations and he,
assisted by Ninnis and Mertz, erected the two screens and mounted
the instruments. Special care was taken to secure the screens against
violent winds. Phosphor-bronze wire-stays, with a breaking strength of
one ton, were used, attached to billets of wood driven into fissures
in the rock. Strong as these wires were, several breakages had to be
replaced during the year.
Webb was busy with the magnetic work. For this two huts were to be
erected; the first for "absolute" determinations, the second for housing
the recording instruments--the magnetographs. Distant sites, away from
the magnetic disturbances of the Hut, were chosen. Webb and Stillwell
immediately set to work as soon as they could be spared from the
main building. For the "absolute hut" there were only scrap materials
available; the "magnetograph house," alone, had been brought complete.
They had a chilly job, for as the days went by the weather steadily
became worse. Yet in a little over a week there were only the finishing
touches to make, and the first observations were started.
It was now necessary to institute a routine of nightwatchmen, cooks and
messmen. The night-watchman's duties included periodic meteorological
observations, attention to the fire in the range, and other
miscellaneous duties arising between the hours of 8 P.M. and 8 A. M.
The cook prepared the meals, and the messman of the day rendered any
assistance necessary. A rotation was adopted, so arranged that those
most actively engaged in scientific observations were least saddled with
domestic duties. Thus each contributed his equivalent share of work.
Whilst others were occupied finishing off the interior of the
hut, Whetter and Close sledged the cases of stores across from the
landing-stage, classified them and stacked them against the veranda
walls. An additional barricade was constructed of flour cases, in the
form of a wall, which increased the breadth of the rocky break-wind on
the southern side.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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