Arctic Blue Books - British Parliamentary Papers Abstract, 1878

1878. GREAT BRITAIN. (45257)

Arctic expedition. Results derived from the Arctic Expedition, 1875-76: I, physical observations by Captain Sir George Nares, and Captain Feilden, &c.; II, medical report on the Eskimo dog disease, by Fleet Surgeon B. Ninnis.

Presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty. London, Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1878. 156 p., 8 col. plates, 7 graphs. (Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Sessional papers, Accounts and papers, 1878. v. 52, no. C-2176)

Meteorology, hydrography, soil temperatures, atmospheric phenomena, solar radiation, aurora, terrestrial magnetism, are reported in tabulated data, and excerpts from journals.

Observations reported were made aboard the Alert and Discovery moving through Smith Sound, Kennedy Channel, Hall Basin, and (Alert only) Robeson Channel; and at their winter quarters on northeast Ellesmere. Both vessels traveled the western side of these waters, north- and southbound, except on the in-voyage they made traverses across Kennedy Channel.

The vessels entered Smith Sound (78š25' N. 74š W.) July 29 1875; reached Discovery Harbour (81 42' N. 65š20' W.), the Discovery's winter quarters, Aug. 25th; the Alert proceeded north, Aug. 28th, to winter at Floeberg Beach (82š27' N. 61š22' W.).

Some observations reported were made in Davis Strait and Baffin Bay (59š36' N. and northward), and a few on the ice of Lincoln Sea, Markham's sledge trip to 83š20'26" N. Observations made on sledge trips from the winter bases are included in the sledgers' reports in No. 45255 supra. A report on the sledge dogs, and list of scientific papers published from Nares' expedition are appended to results from the Alert and Discovery.

Meteorology

Tabulated yearly abstract Aug. 1875-Aug. 1876 of maximum, minimum and mean monthly temperatures, barometer readings, wind direction, duration and force, cloud cover, fog, precipitation, and hours in which mercury remained frozen, as observed by the Alert and by the Discovery (p. 32).

Monthly abstract of the same daily observations, Aug. 1, 1875-Aug. 31, 1876, from the Discovery en route north of 80š N. and at Discovery Harbour (p. 15-27) is followed (p. 34-46) by a similar abstract for the Alert en route and at Floeberg Beach.

Abstract of daily mean temperature 1875-1876 at Floeberg Beach and Discovery Harbour and mean hourly range of temperature (p. 28-29) and daily temperature observations from the Discovery (p. 75-78), and from the Alert (p. 65-74) are given.

Lower deck temperatures aboard the Alert Oct. 1875-May 1876, being maximum, minimum and mean monthly temperatures in the wardroom, mainmast, stokehold, and at three levels in the lower deck are also tabulated (p. 33).

Remarks on the weather every few days are given (p. 97-106) correlating experience aboard the Alert and Discovery July 28, 1875-Sept. 1, 1876, from Smith Sound to, and in, winter quarters.

The station at Discovery Harbour is noted as protected from all but southeast or west winds, and that at Floeberg Beach protected on the SSE through SW to NNW.

On atmospheric pressure, abstracts are given (p. 30-31) of daily mean Aug. 1, 1875-Aug. 31, 1876, and mean hourly range at Floeberg Beach and Discovery Harbour Sept. 1, 1875-Aug. 31, 1876; six-times daily observations Aug. 1, 1875-Aug. 31, 1876, as made aboard the Discovery (p. 47-50), and the Alert (p. 50-59) en route and in winter quarters are tabulated, the Alert's observations at Floeberg Beach increased to hourly Nov. 1875-Mar. 1876.

Corrections for the meteorological instruments, and remarks on the observations, methods, etc., are added (p. 61-65); also (p. 107-108) on the freezing and thawing of mercury in thermometers.

Atmospheric phenomena

Astronomical and atmospheric phenomena observed from the Alert and Discovery, Sept. 1875-May 1876 are chronicled (p. 108-112) including references to mock suns, halos, pillars, etc., meteors, prismatic colors, lunar phenomena, refraction, magnetic disturbances, etc.

Solar radiation observations are tabulated as made aboard the Discovery from Ritenbenk 69š45' N. north to Discovery Harbour July 17-0ct. 11, 1875 and Mar. 23-July 31, 1876 (p. 4-9) and the Alert (p. 10-14) at Floeberg Beach Sept. 26 -Oct. 6, 1875 and Mar. ll-July 28, 1876.

Auroras observed at both the winter bases are discussed and registered chronologically with descriptive notes by Lt. A. C. Parr (p. 113-19, 128-29) and seven colored lithographs from drawings by C. Conybeare, and P. Aldrich are included at p.118.

A report on atmospheric electricity briefly observed, July 9-Nov. 22, is also made by Parr (p. 146).

Magnetic observations

Results of magnetic observations by four expedition officers at winter quarters of the two vessels were worked out by E. W. Creak, Admiralty Hydrographic Dept. (p. 119-45).

Instruments and their housing (including snow house) are described. Mean values of declination, inclination, unifilar horizontal force, and total force are presented and discussed for Floeberg Beach (82š27'02" N. 61š22' W.) and Discovery Harbour (81š44' N. 65š03'44" W.) observatories.

Disturbed days are noted and disturbances analyzed. Appended are tabulations of observations at both stations and seven charts on which the results are plotted.

Hydrography

Thickness of salt-water ice frozen during one season, at Floeberg Beach and Discovery Harbour, is correlated (p. 3-4) with that in six other localities in Greenland and Canadian waters.

Floeberg Beach, a sheltered station was in good agreement with other records; but Discovery Harbour and Robeson Channel ice was less thick due to tidal currents.

Temperature and specific gravity of the sea surface are reported from Kap Farvel northward in Davis Strait, Baffin Bay, Smith Sound, Kane Basin with tabular data (p. 78-84); observations on the specific gravity of the sea water by Buchanan's (Challenger) method, and chlorine estimations by Dr. E. L. Moss are tabulated (p. 85-87) from 58š39' N. to 82š27' N. Surface and deep-sea (to 275 fathoms) temperature observations at 28 stations mostly off east Ellesmere in Smith Sound (79š-79š50' N.) but extending from 59š36' N. to 83š20'26" N. are presented (p. 88-96) and data tabulated.

Soil temperature

Observations at Floeberg Beach and Discovery Harbour (p. 60).

Dog disease

Eskimo dog disease, its symptoms, treatment and pathology, by Belgrave Ninnis (p. 147-54) is based on author's (medical doctor) observation of 25 dogs taken aboard the Discovery at Ritenbenk, West Greenland.

Their habits, onset and course of disease, post mortem examinations (16 cases) are described in turn. The disease is distinguished from rabies, and reported as characterized by ulcerations of the intestines of undetermined cause.

List (p. 155-56) of 36 papers published in connection with the natural history results of the expedition.

Most of these papers, and others not listed, have been abstracted in earlier volumes of Arctic Bibliography, the remainder to be so in v. 9; all appear in Arctic Bibliography indexes under Expeditions: British Arctic Expedition, 1875-1876.

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