Abstract
WITH reference to the Austrian Meteorological Expedition-which on Tuesday last arrived in Vienna from Jan Mayen, we are now able to give the following particulars of the wintering at the island. Leaving Iceland on August 1 the Pola sighted the southern point of Jan Mayen on the 3rd, but a thick fog prevented landing until the following day. Lieut, von Wolgemuth, with some officers, at once came on board, and reat were the rejoicings on both sides at the meeting. The chief of the expedition states that at the end of August, 1882, the northern storms began with a heavy fall of snow. September was, however, fine and warm, but with October the storms from the north again came back with cold weather, accompanied by magnificent auroræ of yellow, blue, and sometimes even red colour. The aurora borealis was always seen, and in constant motion, at times covering the whole firmament. On November 12 the Polar night commenced, but the darkness was not appalling, as the ever-recurring auroræ lit up the night. Terrible snowstorms often compelled the members to keep indoors, and not until December came the ice began to form along the coast, but it was often after broken up under terrific storms. During these the spray from the surf on the coast was often thrown several hundred feet inland and covered every object with salt crystals, so that fresh water had to be fetched long distances. In January the greatest cold occurred, -35° C., but even during that month southerly winds often brought the glass up to +20° C. On January 30 the Polar night came to an end. March was on an average the coldest month, and during the same the station was for a short time snowed up. During April and May fresh weather reigned. Early in June a whaler passed the island, but did not observe the station, and by the end of the month no ice was found on the island. Throughout the winter but little stove firing was necessary, and both houses and the provisions fully answered their purpose. During an exploration of the island a grave was discovered which is believed to be that of one of the shipwrecked Dutch sailors who wintered here in 1633, and died through scurvy. The scientific observations of the expedition are, the members state, very valuable, and have been carried out in accordance with the international programme. There was no case of scurvy among the members or the crew, against which every precaution had been taken by the munificent patron of the expedition, Count Wilczek.
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Geographical Notes . Nature 28, 426–428 (1883). https://doi.org/10.1038/028426b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/028426b0