Problems of the Antarctic

ONE of the most noteworthy meetings during the Australian session of the British Association was the discussion at Sydney on the past and present relations of Antarctica in their biological, geographical, and geological aspects. The four sections of zoology, geology, geography, and botany held a joint meeting for this purpose on August 25, with Prof. A. Dendy in the chair. Sir Douglas Mawson, who had only reached Sydney the day previously from London, was to open the discussion, but he devoted his time more specially to a general account of the work of the Australian Antarctic Expedition. He expressed his belief in the existence of only one land mass in Antarctica. Prof. T. W. Edgeworth David touched on several points. The uneven level of the ice-barrier at its seaward edge could be adequately explained only by its containing beneath its surface flattened-out ribs of glacier ice from the glacier valleys to the south-west and south-east of the barrier. These would account for the inequalities in level of the barrier face, which varies from 20 to 150 ft. above sea-level. In this connection Prof. David pointed out how in the heavily faulted rock strip of South Victoria Land cross faulting had produced low points in the horst through which the inland ice had run. He also dwelt on the importance of the study of Antarctic meteorology in relation to the weather of Australia, and emphasised the value of the Macquarie Island meteorological station.