Scientific Work

By J. M. WORDIE, M.A. (Cantab.), Lieut. R.F.A.

By J. M. Wordie, Master of Arts (Cambridge), Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery.

The research undertaken by the Expedition was originally planned for a shore party working from a fixed base on land, but it was only in South Georgia that this condition of affairs was fully realized. On this island, where a full month was spent, the geologist made very extensive collections, and began the mapping of the country; the magnetician had some of his instruments in working order for a short while; and the meteorologist was able to co-operate with the Argentine observer stationed at Grytviken. It had been realized how important the meteorological observations were going to be to the Argentine Government, and they accordingly did all in their power to help, both before and at the end of the Expedition. The biologist devoted most of his time, meanwhile, to the whaling industry, there being no less than seven stations on the island; he also made collections of the neritic fauna, and, accompanied by the photographer, studied the bird life and the habits of the sea-elephants along the east coast.

The Expedition’s research was originally planned for a shore party working from a fixed base on land. But only in South Georgia were these conditions fully realized. The Expedition spent a full month on the island. The geologist made extensive collections and began mapping the country. The magnetician had some of his instruments working for a short time. The meteorologist was able to work with the Argentine observer stationed at Grytviken. The Argentine Government recognized how important the meteorological observations would be. It therefore did all it could to help, both before and at the end of the Expedition. Meanwhile, the biologist devoted most of his time to the whaling industry. There were no fewer than seven whaling stations on the island. He also collected marine animals from coastal waters. Accompanied by the photographer, he studied the birdlife and the habits of the sea-elephants along the east coast.

By the time the actual southern voyage commenced, each individual had his own particular line of work which he was prepared to follow out. The biologist at first confined himself to collecting the plankton, and a start was made in securing water samples for temperature and salinity. In this, from the beginning, he had the help of the geologist, who also gave instructions for the taking of a line of soundings under the charge of the ship’s officers. This period of the southward voyage was a very busy time so far as the scientists were concerned, for, besides their own particular work, they took the full share of looking after the dogs and working the ship watch by watch. At the same time, moreover, the biologist had to try and avoid being too lavish with his preserving material at the expense of the shore station collections which were yet to make.

By the time the actual voyage south began, each person had a particular job they were ready to carry out. At first, the biologist focused on collecting plankton. He also began collecting water samples to measure temperature and salinity. From the beginning, the geologist helped him with this work. The geologist also gave instructions for taking a series of depth measurements under the ship’s officers’ supervision. This part of the southward voyage was very busy for the scientists. Besides their own work, they did their full share of looking after the dogs and working the ship on each watch. At the same time, the biologist had to avoid using too much preserving material. He needed to save some for the collections still to be made at the shore station.

When it was finally known that the ship had no longer any chance of getting free of the ice in the 1914–1915 season, a radical change was made in the arrangements. The scientists were freed, as far as possible, from ship’s duties, and were thus able to devote themselves almost entirely to their own particular spheres. The meteorological investigations took on a more definite shape; the instruments intended for the land base were set up on board ship, including self-recording barographs, thermometers, and a Dines anemometer, with which very satisfactory results were got. The physicist set up his quadrant electrometer after a good deal of trouble, but throughout the winter had to struggle constantly with rime forming on the parts of his apparatus exposed to the outer air. Good runs were being thus continually spoilt. The determination of the magnetic constants also took up a good part of his time.

When it became clear that the ship had no chance of breaking free from the ice during the 1914 to 1915 season, we made major changes to the arrangements. The scientists were freed from shipboard duties as far as possible. This allowed them to devote themselves almost entirely to their own fields. The weather investigations took on a more definite shape. Instruments intended for the land base were set up aboard the ship. These included self-recording barographs, thermometers, and a Dines anemometer, which produced very satisfactory results. The physicist had considerable trouble setting up his quadrant electrometer. Throughout the winter, he also struggled constantly with frost forming on the parts of his apparatus exposed to the outside air. The frost continually spoiled otherwise good runs of observations. Determining the magnetic constants also took up a good part of his time.

Besides collecting plankton the biologist was now able to put down one or other of his dredges at more frequent intervals, always taking care, however, not to exhaust his store of preserving material, which was limited. The taking of water samples was established on a better system, so that the series should be about equally spaced out over the ship’s course. The geologist suppressed all thought of rocks, though occasionally they were met with in bottom samples; his work became almost entirely oceanographical, and included a study of the sea-ice, of the physiography of the sea floor as shown by daily soundings, and of the bottom deposits; besides this he helped the biologist in the temperature and salinity observations.

Besides collecting plankton, the biologist could now lower one of his dredges more often. However, he always took care not to exhaust his limited supply of preserving material. Water samples were collected more systematically, so that they would be taken at roughly equal intervals along the ship’s course. The geologist put all thoughts of rocks aside, though rocks occasionally turned up in bottom samples. His work became almost entirely oceanographic. He studied the sea ice, the shape of the seafloor as revealed by daily depth measurements, and the bottom deposits. He also helped the biologist observe temperature and salinity.

The work undertaken and accomplished by each member was as wide as possible; but it was only in keeping with the spirit of the times that more attention should be paid to work from which practical and economic results were likely to accrue. The meteorologist had always in view the effect of Antarctic climate on the other southern continents, the geologist looked on ice from a seaman’s point of view, and the biologist not unwillingly put whales in the forefront of his programme. The accounts which follow on these very practical points show how closely scientific work in the Antarctica is in touch with, and helps on the economic development of, the inhabited lands to the north.

Each member undertook and accomplished as wide a range of work as possible. But, in keeping with the spirit of the times, more attention went to work likely to produce practical and economic results. The meteorologist always kept in mind how the Antarctic climate affected the other southern continents. The geologist looked at ice from a seaman’s point of view. The biologist was quite willing to put whales at the forefront of his program. The accounts that follow deal with these very practical matters. They show how closely scientific work in Antarctica is connected to the inhabited lands to the north. They also show how that work helps their economic development.