Showing papers in "Polar Record in 1985"
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of diverting small and large amounts of river water away from the Arctic are discussed in the light of recent observations and modelling studies of Arctic basin hydrology and sea ice distribution.
Abstract: Plans exist in the USSR to divert southward part of the flow of some northern Russian and Siberian rivers, notably the Northern Dvina, Pechora, Ob' and Yenisey, to alleviate water shortages in Central Asia, Kazakhstan and the Ukraine, and counter falling water levels in the Aral and Caspian Seas. Possible effects of diverting small and large amounts of river water away from the Arctic are discussed in the light of recent observations and modelling studies of Arctic basin hydrology and sea ice distribution. Current evidence suggests that small diversions planned to operate before the end of this century will have little effect on ocean circulation or sea ice distribution. Larger-scale diversions planned for the future might affect sea ice formation over the shelf regions of the Kara and Barents Seas, but are unlikely to have a major effect on circulation or sea ice distribution over the Arctic Ocean as a whole.
42 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a joint British-Norwegian expedition from the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) and the Norsk Polarinstitutt (NP) undertook a programme of glaciological research in the Svalbard archipelago.
Abstract: During spring 1983 a joint British-Norwegian expedition from the Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) and the Norsk Polarinstitutt (NP) undertook a programme of glaciological research in the Svalbard archipelago. Work focussed on obtaining airborne radio echo sounding measurements using a newly-constructed digital system and some reconnaissance observations (temperatures, net mass budgets and ice velocities) on the ice caps of Nordaustlandet for the investigation of their surging behaviour. Valley glaciers in Spitsbergen and the ice cap on Kvitoya were also sounded from the air.
27 citations
TL;DR: The first permanent station was established in 1947 by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FISH) as discussed by the authors, which was the site of scientific stations and depots operated by eight Antarctic Treaty nations (Argentina, Brazil, Britain, Chile, Peoples' Republic of China, Poland, USSR and Uruguay).
Abstract: King George Island and Nelson Island, close together in the central South Shetland Islands, were discovered early in the 19th century and often visited by whalers and sealers. Whalers also used their harbours early in the present century. The first permanent station was established in 1947 by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey. Currently they are the site of scientific stations and depots operated by eight Antarctic Treaty nations (Argentina, Brazil, Britain, Chile, Peoples' Republic of China, Poland, USSR and Uruguay), all of which make use of their accessible harbours and relatively long summer season.
21 citations
TL;DR: Smith as discussed by the authors reported the discovery in 1981 of Antarctic hair grass Deschampsia antarctica Desv. on the largest of the Refuge Islands (68° 21' S) in Marguerite Bay, off the south-west coast of Antarctic Peninsula (Figure 1).
Abstract: Smith (1982) reported the discovery in 1981 of Antarctic hair grass Deschampsia antarctica Desv. on the largest of the Refuge Islands (68° 21' S) in Marguerite Bay, off the south-west coast of Antarctic Peninsula (Figure 1). This, was at the time the southernmost record of one of Antarctica's two native flowering plants. The only ecologically suitable area for vascular plants south of these islands appeared to be the Terra Firma Islands, 40 km along the coast, which Smith had been unable to reach due to dense pack ice. Earlier reports of grass and grass-like plants on the Terra Firma Islands could not be accepted as reliable in the absence of accurate descriptions, specimens or photographs, for elsewhere the bushy grey-green or yellow lichens Usnea antarctica and U. fasciata have been mistaken for grass when viewed from a distance. However, both Deschampsia antarctica and also Antarctic pearlwort Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) Bartl., Antarctica's other flowering plant, have now been positively identified at a site on Barn Rock (68° 42' S, 67° 32' W) in the Terra Firma group.
15 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the UN Secretary-General was requested by the General Assembly to prepare a "Study on the question of Antarctica" for the 1984 meeting of the Assembly, which provided a foundation for the UN First Committee's discussions of 28-30 November.
Abstract: In 1983 the UN Secretary-General was requested by the General Assembly to prepare a ‘Study on the question of Antarctica’ for the 1984 meeting of the Assembly. Published in November 1984, the Study provided a foundation for the UN First Committee's discussions of 28–30 November. These demonstrated, as had the discussions of the previous year, the polarization of views among UN member states for and against the Antarctic Treaty System. The UN resolution that followed the discussions similarly represented little advance on that of 1983, merely postponing any decision for a further year. Meanwhile the considerable amount of information marshalled for the Study may help to spread interest in Antarctic affairs and enhance international understanding.
14 citations
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TL;DR: The personal papers of Admiral Dufek, former Antarctic Projects Officer of the United States Department of Defense, provide insights into the political negotiations (May 1958 to October 1959) that immediately preceded the international Antarctic Conference and prepared the way for the Antarctic Treaty of 1959.
Abstract: The personal papers of Admiral Dufek, former Antarctic Projects Officer of the United States Department of Defense, provide insights into the political negotiations (May 1958 to October 1959) that immediately preceded the international Antarctic Conference and prepared the way for the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. The papers, lodged with the University of Syracuse, disclose information hitherto unpublished on the first 26 preparatory meetings, with interesting sidelights recording the attitudes of the 12 governments taking part in the discussions, and showing the origins of the draft treaty from which the Antarctic Treaty evolved.
10 citations
10 citations
TL;DR: The battle of Petropavlovsk as discussed by the authors was a significant though little known victory for the Russians during the Crimean War, where the Russians were able to destroy French ships within the harbour and render the port unusable as a naval base.
Abstract: The battle of Petropavlovsk in August/September 1854 was a significant though little known victory for the Russians during the Crimean War. Petropavlovsk, i n Kamchatka, was attacked by a Franco-British naval force intending to destroy Russian ships within the harbour and to render the port unusable as a naval base. Allied plans were disrupted by the death ofthe commander in chief, the British Admiral Price, just before the action was joined. A bombardment on 31 August badly damaged the harbour defences and, if followed up, would probably have resulted in success. After a gap of three days, the allies mounted a landing in the rear of the town which was, after severefighting, repelled by the Russians. After this defeat, the squadron dispersed t o ports on the other side of the Pacific.
TL;DR: This article used biographical variables, clinical ratings and psychological tests to predict performance of the eleven participants involved in the International Biomedical Expedition to the Antarctic, finding that past polar experience and age were best predictors of low stress and high arousal.
Abstract: Biographical variables, clinical ratings and psychological tests were used to predict performance of the eleven subjects involved in the International Biomedical Expedition ro rhe Antarctic. The results showed that of the biographical predictors, past polar experience and age were best for predicting low stress and high arousal. Of the clinical predictions those made by a psychologist who had access to both interviews and psychometric material, and had been to the Antarctic, were more accurate than those of two other psychologists who had access to only the psychometric material and had not been there. Of the psychological tests, the initial stress scores were found to be good predictors of later stress and arousal, the initial arousal scores to be good predictors of later stress and self adaptation ratings, and the preferred interpersonal distance scores to be good predictors of independent observer ratings and peer ratings of adaotabilitv.
TL;DR: The King's Mirror (KS) as mentioned in this paper is the most significant early European vernacular document for northern research, and it was explicitly stated by Nansen, (1911, 2: 242):
Abstract: The old Norwegian text known as Konungs skuggsja (The King's Mirror), hereafter abbreviated KS, is I believe the most significant early European vernacular document for northern research. This opinion was explicitly stated by Nansen, (1911, 2: 242):
TL;DR: The Sea Ice Group of the Scort Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, took part in the international Marginal Ice Zone Experiment 1984 (MIZEX 84) from 12 June to 26 July, operating from icebreaker FS Polarstern and chartered sealing vessel Kvitbjorn in the Greenland Sea as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The Sea Ice Group of the Scort Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, took part in the international Marginal Ice Zone Experiment 1984 (MIZEX 84) from 12 June to 26 July, operating from icebreaker FS Polarstern and chartered sealing vessel Kvitbjorn in the Greenland Sea. Observations included measurement of ice edge kinetics, wave-ice interactions and upper ocean structure and processes; ocean surface measurements and pressure ridge profile studies were also made in the same area during a post-MIZEX cruise in MS Lance .
TL;DR: Kuchin was the deputy leader of the party and captain of Gerkules, the ship of the Fram expedition as discussed by the authors, which completed an excellent oceanographic survey of the southern Atlantic Ocean.
Abstract: Aleksandr Stepanovich Kuchin (1888–1912) was already an experienced mariner and oceanographer when Amundsen invited him to join the Fram expedition of 1910–12. Expecting a voyage through the Barents Sea, Kuchin found himself on an expedition to the Antarctic. While Amundsen's sledging parties sought the South Pole, Kuchin remained with the ship, completing an excellent oceanographic survey of the southern Atlantic Ocean. Returning to Russia in 1912 he was recruited, by the geologist and explorer V. A. Rusinov to join a scientific expedition to Svalbard. As deputy leader of the party and captain of Gerkules, the expedition ship, Kuchin played an important role in the Svalbard survey. Then once again found himself heading in an unexpected direction: on completing the Svalbard work, Rusanov decided to attempt the Northern Sea Route to the Bering Strait. Gerkules disappeared and was never seen again; her loss, presumably in the Kara Sea, brought to an untimely end the career of a promising young polar explorer.
TL;DR: Armitage was the second in command of both the Jackson-Harmsworth expedition of 1884-1897 and R. F. Scott's British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904 as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Albert Armitage was the second in command of both the Jackson-Harmsworth expedition of 1884–1897 and R. F. Scott's British National Antarctic Expedition, 1901–1904. He never led an expedition himself; as Frank Debenham wrote (1944), ‘For polar work his mind was perhaps not quite flexible enough or his aims were not sufficiently ambitious to make him lead an expedition of his own.’ Despite this he played a leading role in both expeditions, and contributed significantly to Arctic and Antarctic exploration.
TL;DR: Darwin's notes, diary entries and letters covering visits to southern South America and the Falkland Islands in 1833 and 1834 reveal the first indication of an evolutionary concept, suggested by the endemic flora and fauna of the Falklands, which guided his later observations on the Galapagos Islands and lead ultimately to his theory of evolution by natural selection as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Charles Darwin's notes, diary entries and letters covering visits to southern South America and the Falkland Islands in 1833 and 1834 throw light on the revolutionary events of the time. His notes also contain the first indication of an evolutionary concept, suggested by the endemic flora and fauna of the Falklands, which guided his later observations on the Galapagos Islands and lead ultimately to his theory of evolution by natural selection.