The Royal Society and the Antarctic

2000 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. Fogg
Keyword(s):  
Royal Society ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Scientific Investigation ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
The South ◽  
International Geophysical Year ◽  
Geomagnetic Survey ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
International Geophysical ◽  
South Polar

Beginning with its dispatch of Halley on his geomagnetic cruise of 1699 to 1700, the Royal Society has played a sporadic, ad hoc, but nevertheless considerable role in the scientific investigation of the South Polar regions. In three ventures—Ross's geomagnetic survey of 1839 to 1843, the first Scott expedition of 1901 to 1904 and the British contribution to the International Geophysical Year of 1957 to 1958—it made major contributions to the planning and support of Antarctic scientific programmes. Throughout, it has given backing to polar expeditions but has been consistent in putting science before geographical discovery. It has numbered some 20 Antarctic scientists among its Fellows.

The Antarctic Settlement of 1959

1960 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 348-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert D. Hayton
Keyword(s):  
Daily Basis ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
The South ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
International Geophysical Year ◽  
Normal Manner ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
International Geophysical ◽  
South Polar

The Antarctic is no longer the virtual unknown of story and legend. Though it will undoubtedly remain a frontier—as much of Alaska has remained a frontier—one consequence of the International Geophysical Year is that policy and operational affairs of the South Polar Regions have gradually become almost “orthodox,” that is, handled on a daily basis by government officials and institutions in the near-normal manner of dealing with any matter in modern bureaucracy and research.

Address of the President Sir Cyril Hinshelwood, at the Anniversary Meeting, 30 November 1956

1957 ◽  
Vol 146 (923) ◽  
pp. 155-165
Keyword(s):  
Royal Society ◽  
International Geophysical Year ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
International Geophysical

Another year of intensive preparation reached its climax on 13 November when H. M. the Queen visited the Magga Dan which was to convey the Royal Society expedition to the Antarctic, and when the members of the expedition were presented to her. The ship sailed two days later bearing the good wishes of all, on this combination of physical and scientific adventure which will make an important contribution to the International Geophysical Year. A great debt is owing to all who took part in the arrangements and especially to Sir David Brunt and to Dr Martin who have borne so much of the burden and eat of the day.

Introduction

1960 ◽  
Vol 256 (1285) ◽  
pp. 145-148 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Royal Society ◽  
Atmospheric Electricity ◽  
Early Years ◽  
International Geophysical Year ◽  
Scientific Exploration ◽  
The Earth ◽  
The World ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
International Geophysical ◽  
Unknown Region

The decision to establish a station for geophysical observations in Antarctica was one of the most important steps taken by the Royal Society to promote the aims of the International Geophysical Year. Antarctic exploration has long attracted men of science. In 1861, almost a century before the I. G. Y., Commander Maury of the U. S. Navy, a distinguished pioneer meteorologist, wrote to this country pleading the cause of international co-operation in the scientific exploration of the Antarctic. In reply to the question cui bono? Maury said: ‘ . . .it is enough for me, when contemplating the vast extent of that unknown region, to know that it is a part of the surface of our planet, and to remember that the Earth was made for man; that all knowledge is profitable; that no discoveries have conferred more honour and glory upon the age in which they were made, or have been more beneficial to the world, than geographical discoveries, and that never were nations so well prepared to undertake Antarctic exploration as are those that I now solicit’ (Maury 1861). Yet, despite this plea, few landings were made on the continent in the nineteenth century, and the first wintering in the Antarctic was that of the Belgica in 1897-99. After that the pace quickened. During the early years of the present century there were many notable expeditions, especially by Scott (1901-04) and Shackleton (1907-09), culminating in the tragic Scott expedition of 1910-13 which established bases at Cape Evans and Cape Adare and made more extensive observations in meteorology, geomagnetism, atmospheric electricity and geology than ever before. The early explorers expected hardship and were prepared for peril. As Sir George Simpson, one of the scientist members of the last Scott expedition, says ‘In 1910 only wooden ships were used to penetrate ice-covered seas; the only energy available for transport over snow-covered land was the animal power of men, dogs and ponies; there was no communication with the outside world and scurvy was the chief, almost the only, danger to health.’

The Exploration of the Graham Land Region

Polar Record ◽  
1934 ◽  
Vol 1 (8) ◽  
pp. 130-142
Author(s):  
Hugh Robert Mill
Keyword(s):  
Polar Regions ◽  
British Government ◽  
The South ◽  
Geographical Society ◽  
Economic Exploitation ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
South Polar ◽  
Land Region

The sector of the Antarctic regions between the meridians of 30° and 90° W. is still largely unknown, and offers a particularly attractive field for exploration. It was the scene of the earliest discovery of land south of the Antarctic Circle, of the earliest and also of. the latest economic exploitation of the South Polar regions and it is the only part of the Antarctic where very large areas have been seen from the air but never visited on the surface either by sea or land. It is appropriate that a concise summary of the exploration of this region should be put together, in view of the expedition now being organised by John R. Rymill with the active support of the Royal Geographical Society, the British Government, the Discovery Committee and the Polar Institute.

scholarly journals XVI. Contributions to Terrestrial Magnetism, No. XI

1868 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 480-481
Keyword(s):  
Royal Society ◽  
Magnetic Force ◽  
British Association ◽  
Polar Regions ◽  
South Pole ◽  
The South ◽  
General Review ◽  
Terrestrial Magnetism ◽  
Magnetic Elements ◽  
South Polar

This number of the Contributions of Terrestrial Magnetism contains the completion of the Magnetical Survey of the South Polar Regions, undertaken by Her Majesty’s Government in 1840-1845 at the joint instance of the Royal Society and the British Association for the Advancement of Science. The observations themselves, and their provisional discussion, have already been given in the previous numbers, V., VI., VIII., and X. of the Contributions. The present number contains a general review of the whole survey, and is accompanied by three maps, which have been prepared, with the permission of the Hydrographer, Captain Richards, R. N., E. R. S., under the careful superintendence of the Assistant Hydrographer, Captain Frederick John Evans, R. N., F. R. S., one map being allotted to each of the three magnetic elements, viz. the Declination, Inclination, and Intensity of the Magnetic Force. In these maps the Isogonic, Isoclinal, and Isodynamic lines have been drawn, by the author of the paper, conformably with the observations around the circumference of the globe between the parallel of 30° S. and the South Pole. The paper also contains Tables, prepared with a view to the revision of the calculations of Gauss’s 'Allgemeine Theorie des Erdmagnetismus.’ They give the values of each of the three magnetic elements at the intersections of every fifth degree of latitude between 40° of south latitude and the South Pole, and every tenth degree of longitude between 0 and 360°.

scholarly journals Exploration of the South Polar Regions

Nature ◽  
1872 ◽  
Vol 7 (165) ◽  
pp. 138-140
Keyword(s):  
Polar Regions ◽  
The South ◽  
South Polar
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