SOVIET BLOC INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL YEAR INFORMATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00141R000200070001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 32
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 13, 1999
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 21, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

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SOVIET BLOC INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL YEAR INFORMATION
March 21, 1958
U. S. DEPARTIIMNT OF COYTIERCE
Office of Technical Services
Washington 25, D. C.
Published Weekly from February ]i, 1958, to January 2, 1959,
Subscription Price 110.00 for the Series.
PB 131632-6
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PLEASE NOTE
This report presents unevaluated information on Soviet
Bloc Internutionul Geophysical Year activities t,elected
from foreign-language publications as indicated in paren-
theses. It is published as an aid to United States Govern-
ment research.
SOVIET BLOC IN7'L"RNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL Y INFORMATION
Table of Contents
Page
I.
II.
III.
General
Rockets and Artificial Earth Satellites
Upper Atmosphere
11
IV.
Oceanography
14
V.
Glaciology
16
VI.
Seismology
17
VII.
Arctic and Antarctic
18
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Scientist.,.; Discuss International Relations in Moscow
`1 'he editors of the Journal McezhdunarodnuZuhZhizn' organized a dis-
cussion on 24 February 1958 in Moscow~on the teme "Problems of Inter-
national Relations in the Light of the Discoveries of Soviet Science."
Leading Soviet scientists, :social activists and journalists participated.
Letters which were sent to the editors by Kuo Mo-jo, president of the
Academia Sinica, Polish Academician Jan Dembowski, English philosopher
Bertrand Russell and other foreign wnrkarc ccienephiek exnre d
Czeccioslc,vak Gravimetricz Upper Atmos here, a.nd Satellite Tracking Efforts
Josef Novak, chairman of the Czechoslovak commission for IGY made
the following statements about Czechoslovak participation in IGY in an
interview with Vecerni Praha, published in Prague.
Czechoslovakia is participating in all fields of research except on
glaciers, icebergs, and oceans. During the period 1 July 1957 to 31 De-
cember 1957, 310 solar eruptions were observed and measured and 71 solar
radio emissions were recorded by radiotelescope on the 56 centimeter wave
length. This information was sent to Moscow, Paris, the United States,
and Australia.
Observations of the earth satellites began on 5 October 1957 and
since that time the carrier rocket has been observed optically 22 times,
the first satellite 4 times and the second satellite 24 times, not
counting other not completely reliable obbservations. Thirty seven
photographs were taken of the rocket, one of the first satellite, and
3 of the second. Data on visual and radio observations agreed very
well.
At present, Czechoslovak scientists are devoting special attention
to cosmic radiation. Apparatus have been installed in Prague and on
Lomnicky Peak. After making experimental measurements for 6 months they
began sending data to the regional center in Moscow as of 1 January 1958.
The world is interested in these measurements, because the Czechoslovak
stations in the High Tatras are among the highest in the world.
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 Czechoslovakia will also .support a gravimetry program. In addition
to measurements new being carried out at a depth of 1,000 meters, Czecho-
slovaks want to take measurements at 1,300 meters with very sensitive
Iati' truments. These would
during the IGY. (Prague, Vecerni Praha, 22 Jan 58)
CPYRGHT
Hungarians Compute Gauss-Kruger Coordinates
The geodetic laboratory has completed the computation of the Gauss-
Kruger coordinates relating to the Krassovskiy ellipsoid. The geophysical
research laboratory has continued sti ation of telluric
in relation to exploration for Budapest, Muszaki Elet,
j Jan 58 CPYRGHT
II. ROCKETS AND ARTIFICIAL EARTH SATELLITES
Swedish Expert Discounts Soviet "-Phantom" Fuel Use
Engr Bengt Berggvist, research chief of the Swedish Interplanetary
Society, said in a speech given on 25 February to the Technical Physicists
Society in Stockholm that, with regard to the fuels used for Sputnik,
Vanguard, and Explorer, science is not too far removed from the V-2 rocket,
and that all the talk of a Soviet phantom fuel in the sputnik rocket was
ncorrec (Stockholm, Svenska Dagbladet, 26 Feb 58)
CPYRGHT
Soviets to Dis lp ay S utrik II Model in Japan
A. model of the second Soviet artificial earth satellite will go on
display at the International Exhibit in Osaka, Japan.
A Tass photograph (1) shows artist-modelmaker D. Golubchikov dabbing
on the final touches to a full scale cutaway model of Sputnik II.
(Lenin 'adskaya Pravda, 5 Feb 58)
(1) Photo available in source, p 1.
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S~~ltar Studies Lind Satellite Observations i.n tize 1~a dzhan SSE
The sector of Astrophysics of the Academy of Sciences Azerbaydzhan
SSR and the Azeerbaydzhan State University imeni S. M. Kirov (AGU) are
participating in investigations for the ICY. Information on some of
these operations is given in a newspaper article by C, F, Sultanov,
director of the Sector of Astrophysics, and t. Z, Guseynov, chief of the
astronomical station of the university.
Solar observations for the IGY have been conducted by the Sector of
Astrophysics since 1 July 1957, These are being made in a mountain station in
Sbenakhinskiy Rayon, where favorable astronomical conditions make it
n^: ible to obtain valuable data and where construction of a large astro-
pliysical observatory will soon begin. Of particular interest in the
studies of the station are the chromosphere flares which consist of un
us>>al outbursts electromagnetic processes which cause great flows of solar
and electromagnetic processes which affect weather and climate.
`?'::' observations are being made with a chromosphere-photosphere telescope,
:end regular motion pictures are made of these chromosphere flares and
also of' the solar disk,
At the request of scientists for the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory
who visited the mountain station of the Sector of Astrophysics, one copy
of the daily photoheliograms will be sent to the Crimea for the study of
the magnetic fields of sunspots.
Observations of the first artificial satellite were conducted from
the moment of its launching at the specially organized astronomical
station of the Azerbaydzhan university. It was required to determine the
position of the satellite at the moment of its passing. The observers
consisted of instructors, laboratory workers and students of the university
who worked with astronomical telescopes and other physical instruments
installed in.the station. The satellite observation assignment for 1957
was successfull;, completed, and three passes of the second satellite were
observed in the first half of December.
A new problem has been placed before the astronomical station of the
university -- photographic observation of the satellite, Prior observations
were visual, and the accuracy was not sufficient. A complex of specialized
instruments consisting of a camera for photographing the satellite and
background stars, a chronograph for registering the exact time, and an
electrophotometer for measuring brightness variations were constructed for
more accurate determination of satellite position. (Baku, Bakinskiy Rabo-
chiy, 5 Feb 58)
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The lzvestiya communique of 16 February 1958 on satellite ephemeris
had this to say about Sputnik II: CPYRGHT
At 0900 Moscow time on 16 February Sputnik II completed its 1,500th
revolution around the Earth.
Since the launching of Sputnik II, 105 days have passed. From the
moment of its orbiting, a vast amount of material of radio and optical
observations of great scientific value has accumulated. This material
continues to be accumulated each day. Current processing of the data
of measurements indicates the excellent coincidence of actual and cal-
culated parameters of the satellite's orbit. This indicates the high
accuracy of the measurements and the forecast of the movements of the
satellite on the basis of the measurements processed.
Optical observations are being conducted by more than 80 astronomical
stations in the Soviet Union and more than 50 astronomical stations in
Europe, Asia, and South and North America.
The measurements of greatest value regularly come from observatories
and astronomical stations located in Pulkovo, Arkhangelsk, Abastumani,
Yakutsk, Vologda, Leningrad, Moscow, and Irkutsk. Much valuable material
is received from astronomical stations in Czechoslovakia, China, Bulgaria,
Poland, Yugoslavia, the Netherlands, Finland, and Chile.
Since the moment of orbiting, Sputnik II has traveled a distance
equal to 67,555,000 km, which is 1.18 times the distance to Mars during
the time when it is closest to Earth and more than 175 times the distance
from Earth to the Moon. The revolution period of Sputnik II has changed
by 6.2 min, and at present it takes 97.5 min for a complete revolution,
which is 1.3 min more than the revolution period of Sputnik I at the
time of its entry into orbit.
The daily change in the revolution period at present is about 4.7
sec. In the first days of its orbiting the variation was about 2 sec.
The maximum altitude of the orbit has decreased by 590 km and is currently
1, 08o km,.
In clear weather on 16 February, Sputnik II may be observed with
the naked eye at sunrise from 540 to 65? north latitude and from 46? to
630 south latitude,
On 17 February, Sputnik s northwest of Moscow
you saes. to northeast direction. (Moscow, Izvestiya, 16 Feb 58)
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Dobronravov Rev_l.ows S1i1tn-Lks I and II
V. V Dob.ronravov, professor and Doctor of. Physicomathematical
Sciences and deputy chai'rrna.i for science of the Astronautics Section of
the Central Aero Club imeni V. P. Chkalov, presents an interesting review
CPYRGHT of both So?,,iet artiflciul earth satellites as follows:;
The entire world is following with exceptional attention the e.x.tremel.y
remarkable events in science and engineering which have taken place recently
in the USSR. Soviet scientists, engineers, technicians, and workers
cons eructed for the first time In the world an aircraft capable of operat-
ing for a prolonged length of time and reaching interplanetary space,
Such aircraft are the intercontinental ballistic. rockets which were success-
fully -tested in August 11957, and also the Soviet artificial. earth satellites,
The first Soviet artificial earth satellite was successfully launched
on It October 1957, and the second, significantly improved, on 3 November
1957, The ballistic rocket and the first satellite were carried to dis-
tances from the Earth approaching 1,000 kilometers.; The farthest point
of the orbit of Sputnik II was at a distance of 1,700 kilometers from
the Earth,
These events opened up a new era in history -?- the era of the con
quest of interplanetary space by man. From this viewpoint, the recent
achievements of Soviet science and engineering may be compared with such
events as the invention of the steam engine, the invention of radio-
telegraphy by A, S. Popov, and the utilization of intranucl.ear energy.
On the other side, the achievements of Soviet science and engineering
attest to the very high scientific and engineering level achieved in the
USSR, In the field of rocket engineering the Soviet Union has surpassed
all countries, including even the US. This, however, is not only in the
field of rocket engineering; its development is connected intimately with
successes in all fields of the exact and natural sciences and with progress
in various branches of indu. Y;ry and engineering,
The achievements of Soviet society logically and naturally proceed
from the previous course of growth for the entire country, Under the
direction of the Communist Party and the Soviet government vast and in-
tensilre work was done in converting the former backward Czarist Russia into
an advanced industrial country with industrial and technical. might. Ex-
clusive attention was given to the development of science, A number of
scientific research institutions - institutes, laboratories, design
bureaus, etc., - were organized in the country. The Academy of Sciences
USSR was transformed into the major scientific center directing the
scientific life of the country, The network of higher educational insti-
tutions was extraordinarily expanded,
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It should be noted that the Soviet Union is the home of theoretical
rocket dynamics and astronautics. The bases of these sciences were by
Russian scientists -- I. V. Meshcherskiy and, chiefly, K. E. Tsiolkovskiy.
The 100th anniversary of the birth of K. E. Tsiolkovskiy was celebrated
widely in September 1957. His legacy was deeply developed in many scien-
tific research institutions and higher educational institutions.
All these factors indicated resulted in the fact that launching of
the first artificial earth satellite in the world was conducted in the
Soviet Union.
The first Soviet artificial earth satellite is a small spherically
shaped body with a diameter of 58 centimeters. The satellite moves
around the Earth in an elliptic curve. A rocket-carrier was used for
placing the satellite in its orbit. The rocket moved in the beginning
according to a transitional trajectory the rectilinear initial section of
which was perpendicular to the surface of the Earth and achieved an alti-
tude to 80 kilometers, that is passed through the densest layers of the
atmosphere. Continuing to gain altitude, the rocket turned according to
plan, and at the end of the transitional trajectory at a distance of sev-
eral hundred kilometers from the Earth, the satellite and protective cone
were separated from the nose section of the rocket with the aid of ejecting
devices.
The final velocity attained by the satellite was equal to approximately
8 km/sec (the first cosmic velocity), and the satellite began to move under
the action of the Earth's gravity alone. The farthest peak of the ellipse
(apogee) was originally at a distance of approximately 1,000 kilometers
from the South Pole side of the Earth.
The plane of the orbit of Sputnik I was inclined to the equatorial
plane of the Earth at an angle of 65?. Such an orbit permits the satel-
lite to pass over all parts of the territory of the USSR.
It is necessary also to explain the motion of the Earth around the
general center of the mass of a system of two bodies -- the Earth and the
Moon. The center of the mass of this system is within the Earth at a
distance of 4;500 kilometers from its center. The Earth slowly rolls over
this point. During the movement of the satellite in a selected orbit, this
movement of the Earth will influence it less than in the case of movement
of the satellite in any other orbit.
Of great importance and inestimable service were electronic computers
with whose aid all elements of the transitional and stationary trajectories
of the satellite were successfully calculated with great accuracy. The
slightest error in the calculations of the trajectory program of control
during movement in the transitional trajectory could lead to a mishap in
the launching of the satellite.
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 PYRGH
The design of the satellite antenna is of special interest. Not
one foreign artificial satellite project contains similar original parts
in the form of suspended antenna rods, The practicality of such a techni-
cal idea indicates that in the future, both on a satellite and on inter-
planetary ships, similar devices which automatically slide in and out,
for example, in landing or braking, may be used,
.During the launching of the first Soviet satellite, one event oc-
curred., the rocket-carrier of the satellite at the end of operation of
its motors attained a velocity sufficient enough for it to revolve as a
satellite of Earth and thus as a satellite, began moving in a closed orbit
around the Earth.. Originally, the orbits of the satellite and the rocket-
carrier were close together, Subsequently, the rocket-carrier began to
experience great braking from the surrounding material medium, even though
it was highly rarefied at those altitudes, where the movement of both bodies
occurred; therefore, the rocket-carrier began to drop more quickly than the
satellite under the influence of the Earth's gravity,
On 3 November 1957,, one month after the launching of the first
satellite, the whole world learned of the latest brilliant achievement of
the Soviet; government:: the second Soviet earth satellite, which was of
significantly greater size and weight than the first satellite, was
launched?
It should be noted that Sputnik I astonished foreign scientists with
its weight, which was 83,6 kilograms, for such small dimensions, In such
a .-canner the workers of the Soviet instrument building, electrical and
radio engineering industry succeeded in equipping Sputnik I with compara-
tively powerful small-size apparatus.
The second Soviet artificial earth satellite was the final stage of
a multistage rocket, Naturally, in the compartments of such a body, it was
possible 'to mount significantly larger sources of electrical energy and
more powerful apparatus not only for radio communications with the Earth
but also for making various scientific observations,
Moreover, the first living traveler in the cosmos --? a dog, housed
in a special hermetically sealed container -- was placed in Sputnik II,
Within the container regeneration and conditioning of air were provided
as weli as a supply of food. To the body of the dog were attached in-
struments which recorded the functions of the organism: the work of the
heart, blood pressure, respiration, etc,
The results of measurements being transmitted by radio to the Earth
will be highly useful for the organization in the future of interplanetary
flights with human beings.
-7-
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The useful weight of the equipment of Sputnik II, including the con-
tainer with the dog (excluding the rocket body), was 508.3 kilograms. The
equipment consisted of an apparatus for investigating solar emissions in
the short-wave ultraviolet, and X-ray regions of the spectrum; apparatus
for the study of cosmic rays; and telemetering apparatus for transmission
of measurement data to the Earth.
Sputnik II was equipped with two radio transmitters operating on
frequencies of 40.002 Mc and 20.005 Mc (with a wave length of about 7.5
and 15 meters, respectively).
The signals of the radio transmitter on the 20.005-Mc frequency were
in the form of telegraphic pulses with a duration of about 0.3 second
with a pause of the same duration. The 40.002-Mc transmitter operated
continuously.
During launching Sputnik II achieved a much higher velocity than
Sputnik I; as a result its orbit was at a greater distance from the Earth
than the orbit of Sputnik I. The inclination of the orbit of Sputnik
II, just as in the case of Sputnik I, was 65? to the equatorial plane.
With the aid of instruments mounted on satellites, a number of obser-
vations from a study of the upper, extremely rarefied layers of the at-
mosphere, investigations of pressure of gases, etc., may be conducted.
Various interesting facts can be obtained, not only with the aid of instru-
ments mounted on the satellites, but also by a study of the forms of the
satellite orbit and its changes as it approaches the denser layers of the
atmosphere.
The basic content of observations will be related to the study of
the sun and cosmic rays. Extremely favorable conditions for making such
observations exist outside of the atmosphere. A detailed investigation
of the ultraviolet portion of the solar spectrum, X-radiation, and electron
emission is planned. The intensity of corpuscular solar radiation, its
effect on the change in the Earth's magnetic field, disturbances in the
ionosphere, the nature of northern lights, the degree of penetration of
particles in the atmosphere, etc., will be clarified.
Interesting results are anticipated from the study of the physical
properties of the ionosphere: clarification of the degree of ion concen-
tration and its change with altitude. Observation of the passage of radio
waves in the ionosphere, not only radiated by the radio transmitter of the
satellite itself but also reflected radio waves sent from the Earth, will
be highly effective.
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Elecr,i teal currents being; ori.gl.nated by ;port-period changes in the
Lzs gnetic. f'iel.d will. be investigated. With other satellites the
h.j-pothec,.i;> of the -existence of circular flows in the aurora zone and in
ar.e~tz>_ situated at the equator will be vcrif'ied. These data will be very
i.nt? res tlnp, r'or the physics of electrical. phenomena in general.
Esp,_icia ly -interesting will. be the observations on primary cosmic
rays, As is known, in the composition of cosmic rays which penetrate
the Earth from the depths of the unive.rse., there are particles which are
principally of the same nature as intranuclear particles in the atom.
In pa.r, titular, among the cosmic particles may be found protons, helium
nu :lei mesons of various types, etc. Cosmic particles penetrating the
Earth with high'.;r decreased energy and in small quantity are absorbed
in a a,r'ge degree by the Earth's atmosphere. Outside of the atmosphere
cosmic particles should be observed in their natural state -- with great
velocities and high energy,
T.e..;strument.s mounted on the satellite (particle counters, photo-
emul.sion devices, ctc:.) can record the parameters of particles, determine
their energies, and fix their collision, decay, manifestation of the
effe,-. ts of' these new partic::i es, etc.
New, interesting facts may be obtained from the properties of intra..
atomic. particles useful. to scientists and engineers working in the field
of the peaceful. use of atomic energy. Phenomena being studied at present
in large particle accelerators may be investigated more directly with the
aid of a satellite, Data can be obtained on the distribution in the cosmos
of rare elements, such as lithium, beryllium, and boron.
The compression of the Earth at its poles creates a nonuniformity
in the distribution of the Earth's gravitational field. In the direction
of the poles,, it is more intensive than in an equatorial direction. Owing
to this tc'a jer:tory of the sputnik, a declination from the trajectory will
be had whir.-.,h it would not have in a uniform gravitational field of a sphere
wi Th a symmetrical distribution of the density of its mass. According
to this not only the form of the Earth but also its density in various
radial directions can be ascertained,
Satellites may be used even for aeronautical and sea navigation. A
sat?e-11ite, launched particularly along a certain meridian, for example the
reen.wic:h meridian. may serve as an excellent radio beacon for orienting
maritime and air ships.
Of great practical significance for the development of interplanetary
flight will be the investigation of meteor bodies which will be realized
with the aid of' satellites. Meteor bodies consist basically of particles
them-, mass of which i measured in parts of a milligram. The velocity of
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motion of these particles achieves 0 Km sec. A satellite can record en-
counters with such particles and, as a result, can clarify the distribution
of meteor dust occurring in the upper layers of the atmosphere. At the
same time, they can determine the distribution of meteor dust in the inter-
planetary space. Encounter of the satellite with larger meteor particles
having a mass of 0.1 gram and greater (but that, however, is unlikely),
can finish off the satellite by damaging it -- penetration of the shell,
damage to the antenna, etc.
The use of artif.iciai earth satellites as rebroadcasting points for
radio and television transmission is completely practical. For this
purpose, evidently, satellites moving comparatively slowly in relation
to terrestrial points will be more suitable farther away from the Earth.
Tr)n--rnn+.inon+n1 r?~1i,ptelov1cion traxsmission may be organized with the
aid of three satellites in one orbit (Elektrichestvo, No 12, Dec 57,
pp 1-2
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M. UPPER ATMOSPII
Meteor Studies at Stalinabad Astronomical Observatory
Investigation of the physical structure of the upper layers of the
atmosphere was assigned to Stalinabad astronomers by the Interdepartmental
IGY Committee of the Academy of Sciences USSR.
Two new meteor patrols, each equipped with seven highly sensitive
cameras, were set up for these studies. One of these patrol stations it
at Stalinabad and the second at a base point l) kilometers distant from
the first. Over 100 photographs of meteors have been obtained for the IGY
under the direction of P. B. Babadzhanov, Candidate of Physicomathematical
Sciences.
Simultaneously, several thousand radar echoes have been registered by
two alternately operating radar stations. This radar method is particularly
valuable in that it permits meteor observations around the clock regardless
of weather.
Visual observations are also being conducted on drift of meteor trails
for the determination of the speed and direction of stratospheric wind:,
above Tadzhikistan.
The Stalinabad Astronomical Observatory has also received a number of
reports from the,Kulyabskiy, Kolkhozabadskiy, and Shakhrinauskiy rayons
on observations of the rocket-carrier of the first satellite and also the
second satellite.
A. Solov'yev, Candidate of Physicomathematical Sciences and director
of the astronomical observatory of the Academy of Sciences Tadzhil, SSP,
points out that a basic portion of the workers for the IGY are Komsomol
students of the Tadzhik State University imeni Lenin who are acquiring
practical scientific experience necessary for entering "aspirantura"
training.
Several scientific workers are preparing to defend their dissertations
for the degree of Candidate of Physicomathemati_cal Sciences. For example;
for his dissertation the capable junior scientist Sliavkat Isamutdinov is
solving problems in the determination of the radiants of meteor streams
by radar methods.
Urgent processing of an abundance of IGY material is being conducted
by the astronomers along with their regular observations. It has now
become necessary to overcome the difficulties caused by the shortage of
calculating machines and experienced calculating personnel.
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The Stalinabnd /Wt.roriomical Observatory is preparing for participa-
tion in the 10th Congress of the International Union of Astronomers which
Is to be held this August in Moscow. According to A. Solov'yev, 'this con-
gress will be a groat political and scientific event which will contribute
Lists of the brother republics
of the Sov:Let Union and other countries. (Stalinabad, ICommunist Tadzhiki-
stana, 5 Feb 5 CPYRGHT
Odessa Meteor Patrol Described
The Astronomical Observatory at Odessa State University is the chief
institution in the USSR engaging in the study of meteors according to the
IGY program. The work of the observatory and the operation of the meteor
patrol is described in a news article by F. Kudryavtseva, a special cor-
respondent for izvestiya. CPYRGHT
To better fulfill the tasks imposed upon them by the IGY, a group at
the observatory created a new system of instruments for observing meteors--
a meteor apparatus with an obturator of variable cross-section or "Kramer's
obturator," us it is known after its inventor, Ye. N. Kramer, a senior
scientific associate at the observatory who developed the apparatus to-
gether with N. I. Timchenko, a chief mechanic.
The central post of the meteor patrol is :Located on the outskirts of
the village of Mayaki spread out on the right bank of the Dnestr River.
Here, scientific associates Olga Rudenko, Rina Teplitskaya, and students
from Odessa University serve.
On a favorable night, five or six visible meteors appear in the field
of vision of the aerial cameras' objectives. However, such favorable
nights are few. Moonlight, fog, heavy snowfalls, and clouds very often
disturb the meteor patrol.
When a meteor appears, its flash is recorded on a film. A chronograph
times the flash with an accuracy to hundredths of a second. Instruments
photograph the entire visible path of the meteor on the background of the
sky.
Simultaneously with the central post, two auxiliary posts, one in
Odessa and the other in the village of Kryzhanovka, conduct observations.
Valuable scientific data can be obtained only in the case where the same
meteor is timed by the central post and one of the auxiliary posts. Only
then can the altitude of the flash and the extinction of the meteor be
determined.
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Shul'berg, deputy director for uucience at the observatory, says that
the meteor patrol, equipped with a new cyotem of i.nctrwnentu, obtains data
with an accuracy to hundredths of a second. The observatory is equipped
with other instruments which day and night, regardless of weather, records
all. meteors appearing within the operational radius. Recently, an appara-
tus for obtaining spectral photographs was set up.
Kudryavtoeva concludes her news report with a discussion of the im-
portance of ineteor studie3 for providing information on the changes in the
density and temperature of the atmosphere at an altitude of 70-:1.30 kilo -
meters, and their importance in future aviation in the stratosphere and
of the i ?r
origin of the Earth and other planets. (Moscow, Izvestiya, lb Feb 537)
CPYRGHT
Visual Aurora Witnessed in Khabarovsk in February
The residents of Khabarovsk observed in the north and northeastern
part of the horizon a large display of northern, lights on 11 February 1958.
The glow appeared as huge light columns. (Moscow, Izvestiya) 13 Feb 58)
Two Solar Eclipses for 1958
Central-type solar eclipses will occur in 1958 on 19 April and 12 Octo-
ber. The first will form shortly after the Moon passes through its apogee.
It will be annular so that the end of the lunar shadow will not reach the
Earth. The second will form several hours after the Moon passes its perigee
and will be a total eclipse. According to Tass, the :i9 April eclipse will
hn yi n ihl n in ana+mgn $4-f- j - d oou?tral Asian republics of the USSR. Its
observation will also be possible in China and sauthern Asia. (Baku, I3akin?-
s ciy Rabochiy, 5 Feb 5 CPYRGHT
Czechoslovak Solar Observations
CPYRGHT
Czechoslovakia is devoting special attention to meteorology during
the IGY, and about 3.60 scientific and technical workers are participating
in the meteorological program. The Hydrometeorological Institute (Hydro--
meterologicky ustav) performs most of the observation, but the meteorolog-
ical observatory in Milesovka and the work center in Hradec Kralove also
participate. All observations are made according to a plan. Operations
carried out include: surface observations of weather, measuring of meteor-
ological elements, measuring these phenomena at high altitudes by means of
radio soundings, measuring various types of solar radiation and determining
the amount of ozone in the air. Chemical analyses are made of rainfall
caught at 22 stations located throughout the country. Reports on surface
and altitude measurements of weather phenomena are ordinarily sent to the
sspecialized center in 'Geneva and to the data center in Moscow.
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 Extenuive roucarch of the Burl is being carried out at eight autronom-
I.ca,L obuervator:i.cu. The main confer is the Institute of Astronomy of the
Cvechocl:Lovalc Academy of Sciences (An tronomi city ustav Ceskoslovonske akademie
vcd), whore :iLl scientific and :1.3 technical workers are specializing in this
prop ram. Visual. and photo~,.raphie observations of sun spots are .being made
at ul. x places in the country. Besides this, solar eruptions are constantly
followed. Daily reports are sent to the Eurasian and the West European
ccrrt?crn and fortnightly reports are sent to centers working on daily maps
Of the Sun in the Soviet Union and in West Germany,
Pictures are taken daily of solar prominences and pictures have been
taken showing the development of several series of explosive prominences.
Solar radio emissions are picked up on the 56 centimeter wave length and
results of measurements are published in monthly bulletins. Some 142 major
radio emissions have been recorded. The results of observations at the
Ondrejov observatory are highly valued in foreign countries. One of the
best experts in the study of the solar chromosphere, Dr Ellison, called
in Ondreiov the best organized visual observation
of eruptions in Europe. (Prague, Miada Fronta, 19 Jan 58)
CPYRGHT
Hertz Institute Radiotelescope
A parabolic reflector (2), having a diameter of 36 meters, is being
used for radioastronomical research and IGY observations in East Germany.
The reflector is located in the northern part of East Germany and belongs
to the Hertz Institute in Berlin. (Prague, Rude Pravo, 20 Jan 58)
(2) Photo available in source, p 3.
IV. OCEANOGRAPHY
Vityaz Returns to Vladivostok
The Vityaz, flagship of the Soviet Scientific Research Fleet, has
returned to its home port Vladivostok, after almost 4 months of voyaging
during which she covered over 17,000 miles. The leader of the Vityaz Ex-
pedition, Prof V. G. Bogorov, Doctor of Biological Sciences at Moscow Uni-
versity, in an interview with V. Soroiciii, l'ruvda correspondent, gave
some aetai_ls of the Vityaz's second voyage under the IGY program. CPYRGHT
The vessel traveled a course, south along the 174 meridian West long-
itude to New Zealand; thence, north along the 172 meridian East longitude.
In this manner, the central and southern parts of the Pacific Ocean were
traversed twice. As part of its work, the expedition obtained many deep-
water specimens of fish, mollusks etc. Photographs were made of the sea
bottom at depths down to 9,000 meters. Deep-water trawling was a regular
part of the expedition's duties.
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A notable discover. wau the V ind i ng ol.' a hitherto unknown depression,
lying, north of the New Ifebridos l lands. Depths of 6,200 meters were re-
corded here and the rrr.une of the ril1p, V:it-yaz, wao proposed for this depres -
s:Lorr.
The Vi tyaz will depart on :i tr3 third IGY voyage in a fortnight. (Moo -
cow, Pravda, 23 Feb 56)
Scierrt.iCic Research Ship Murmanetu Explores Bering, Chulotsk, and East
S iber.Lan Scan
A letter to the editor of Smcna from Aleksandr Fedorov, hydrologist
with the Polar Scientific Research l..pedition aboard the ship Murrnanets,
describes the life and routine of the men of the expedition. Fedorov ex-
p.Lainc. that the Complex Polar Oceanographic Expedition of the Arctic Sci-
entific Research Institute has been working; in eastern Arctic seas since
1941, and has already made its 17th voyage in these waters. The majority
of the members of the expedition are young specialists who have completed
their schooling within the last several years.
The region being studied at present by the Murinanets embraces the
Bering, the Chulotsk, and the East Siberian Seas. The expedition is equipped
with instruments of the very latest design. Among them are those for reg-
isterin,, water temperatures (surface, etc.), and for conducting observations
on the direction and velocity of currents of water masses. One very in-
teresting instrument automatically prints on a tape data on currents at
great depths. Fedorov states that a considerable portion of this work was
completed in the first week of the voyage. He ascribes this to the dis-
tinctive seaworthiness and speed of the ship and its ability to navigate
in the ice-filled waters. The ship, at the time of writing, was in Bukhta
(Bay) Provideniya.
Fedorov's letter is in answer to a letter from a Komsomol Brigade at
Rostov-na-Donu. Members of the brigade had placed their letter in a crate
of dried currants and it was found several months later when the case was
opened while the ship was completing a voyage through the Chukotsk and
Bering Seas.
Photographs published in the source include one of the Murmanets, one
showing a sailor preparing to send down a recording instrument, and a pic-
ture of the rocky Chukotsk coast. (Smena, No 22, Nov 57)
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De. ils
G.] u' i.I?r 11ico?101:10n$..r1`Var' 10110
An by B. A. 13orovinsl:iy, tiit?.led "An E;:perinlent on the Do-
I;cr'mirl:ct ion r X the II,.a:c of Movement; of ice Deep Within a Glacierdo-
scr.i.bes c~.t,empts to determine the rate of movement of the ice deep within
i;hc Cen';r:ll T_:yuk Su Glacier of the &Lillyckly Ala-Tau Range during the
c m..nuncr of 195'(.
Three methods were used: (1.) tracing the equipotential. lines, (2)
measuring the potential, and (3) measuring the gradient of the potential.
In determining the rate of movement of the ice by the method of
lines, a special electrode consisting of a metallic cylin-
. r '50 :n'l.'imeters in diameter and :;0 millimeters long was lowered into
a 2',-mster ho :e n the neve basin of the glacier. A second power elec-
tr?ode was placed 350 meters frorr the points to be observed. The power
w~.s si pp .i:?d by BAS-G-30-L-21. batteries. Measurements of the difference
were made with the potentiometer EP-1 (sensitivity 0.05
rtl"~C;r clu..ti.on) ?
Vie- recei-sing electrode "II" was placed 10 meters from the mouth of
the iro::.e, !.rid the point of euuaj. potential was sought with the other
r ece:L ink; electrode: "M." After this point was found and marked, the
s'rbsc ..,tent points were located until they formed the contour of the
1uipot entia1 line. Then a tacheometric survey was made of the points
-
of* :,he e., il.poi?ent:ial line. The points were then plotted on millimeter
paper according to the computed coordinates in the provisory system.
Because of the difference of rates of movement of ice on the surface
and deep within the surface, the electrode in the hole was displaced a
certain distance. After 24 clays of repeated determinations of the char-
'u~" otential lines and continuous treatment of the data
i.c'.er C ,.r :"i!et e.1-~P
a 20-centimeter displacement of the equipotential line was discovered.
To determine the movement of ice deep within the glacier by the
poLenti.;..l method, a receiving electrode "II" was placed one meter from
the ho :.e in the direction of the flow of ice. A second receiving elec-1, 1
trode "I4" was shifted in 15-centimeter steps in relation to electrode
"II." After each shift; of electrode "M" the difference of the potentials
of the two electrodes eras measured and recorded. A graph of the po-
tential was compiled, and the projection of the electrode in the hole
was determined in relation to the mouth of the hole.
Dh.rr l.ng repeated measurements made during the 24-day period the
perceptible shift of the m;:imum potential was established, and, sub-
sequently, the shift of the electrode in the hole. The shift of the
mu-mum of the potential in relation to the mouth of the hole during
the first measurement was connected with the bend of the hole.
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Fi.rrall.y, the mcuourementu wca.'c checked by a p:i.ott:Lng of the gradient
of the potent i aL:1 . For this pua'pose the posltions of the. two e7.ectrodcu
were reversed., -and the difference of the potentials was measured. During
the ir.Luraf;e of the receiving electrode over the electrode in the hole, a
change in the sign of the gradient of the potential. took place.
'i'huu;, on the graph, the lines connecting the points of the passage
of the gradient through zero represented a projection of the electrodes
on the surface of the ice.
The results of the work indicated that, in the area of the neve
basin of the Central Tayuk Su Glacier, the rate of movement of the ice
at a depth of 25 meters is slower than that of the surface by 0.803
centimeter per 21i-hour day. (Vestnik Akudemi.i Nauk Kazakhskoy SSR, No
1.2, Dec 57, T'p 5iu-60)
Seismic Research in Kuriles and Sakhalin
A brief unsigned newspaper item, titled "Soviet Researchers in the
Pacific Earthquake Center," reads as follows:
"i1n enormous fissure in the Earth's crust along the Kurile Island
chain is the cause of the frequent earthquakes and seaquakes in this
area, according to discoveries of Soviet researchers. The expeditionary
group of the Academy of Sciences USSR active in the area has recorded up
to 50 weak earthquakes with the aid of highly sensitive seismographic
measuring instruments. These investigations are supposed to give an
answer to several questions connected with the history of the geological
development of the Far East. The work of these scientists is confined
primarily to the Kuriles, the Island of Sakhalin, the deeps of the ocean
floor, and the coasts of the Pacific Ocean.
"The group has at its disposal several research ships, which already
have crossed the Sea of Okhotsk many times and have ventured 650 kilo-
They are working in strict accordance with
.(Halle, Freiheit, 16 Jan 58)
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Soviet Antarctic Research Results
CPYRGHT
An unsigned Gone raa. (a.rrt) German News Agency (ADN) report, titled
"Animal. Skeletons in Lhc AnLarcti.c," follows;
"Fossil remains of wood and impressions of plant leaves discovered
by Soviet unLaretic research scientists in the eastern part of Antarctica
indicate that there must have been vegetation here about 200-250 million
years ago. Petrified forms, presumably the skeletons of animals, esti-
muted Lo be several hundred million years old, have also been found.
"These findings were made by Soviet scientists during a landing on
Horn Bluff, at which time they also determined that the sandstone of
this area contains up to 30 percent garnet and large amounts of cassiter-
i.te.
The geographers of the expedition have, in the meantime, corrected
the map of the South Pole area at several places. They found. that the
coast of Wilkes Land e:-:tends several dozen miles farther south than was
Formerly assumed.
"According to data of the Soviet glaciologist, Professor Shumskiy,
who headed the investigations of the Antarctic ice cover in 1957, the
average thickness of the South Pole ice cover is not, as formerly as-
sumed, 1,500 meters, but 2,500 meters. Thus the total mass of the Ant-
arctic ice has been estimated at about 30 million cubic kilometers.
"With their caterpillar tractors and sleighs, Soviet polar re-
seurchers are continuing successfully the still completely unexplored
path to the so-called pole of relative inaccessibility of. the Antarctic.
"Since departing from "Komsomolskaya" station, the crew had covered,
by 5 February, almost 200 kilometers on an ice plateau 3,600 meters above
sea. le-e), where temperatures are around i-5 degrees below zero. Several
tt.i mes, the eight; cat;erp:i.llar-track vehicles sank as much as .l. 1/2 meters
in the layer of powdery snow, which is several meters deep. Over the
the tractors left in the snow a trail about 70 centi-
(Berlin, Vorwaerts, 10 Feb 58)
Soviets Find Antarctic Smaller Than Anticipated
According to source, members of a group of Soviet scientists re-
cently published their findings on the Antarctic. Their report is said
to have stated that the Antarctic is approximately one third as large as
had been previously supposed. (Budapest, Technika, No 2, Feb 58, p 7)
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Second Antarctic Continental Expedition Returns to USSR
The triumphant arrival in Odessa of the members of the Second Ant-
arcLic Continental Expedition of the Academy of Sciences USSR is reported
in a news item.
Three ships were used to return these polar workers from Antarctica--
the Kooperatsiya, from Mirnyy to the Island of Mauritius; the Angara, to
Alexandria, Egypt; and the Pobeda, to Odessa.
V. D. Meshcherin, deputy chief of the expedition, as spokesman,
expressed the company's appreciation for the warm and cordial welcome
accorded them. Meshcherin also thanked the Communist Party and the
Soviet government for the rest care they showed for the welfare of the
expedition participants. Moscow, Izvestiya, 19 Feb 58)
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Soviet Review of Resulto of 11,)56 Ar ct i.c and Antarctic Research
In the ].95'r yearbook of the, Bolshaya Sovetskaya Entsiklopediya
(Great Soviet Encyclopedia) the Soviets cover their scientific re-
search operations in the polar regions in a series of brief survey
articles, of which a full translation follows. Me maps referred to CPYRGHT
are not reproduced but are available in the original document.
1. "Results of Scientific Research Work in the Central Arctic,"
by V. Burkhanov
The 1956 operations were a continuation of a wide complex of
scientific investigations that were conducted by the Soviet Union in
recent years in the Central Arctic in the interests of developing the
northern sea route and utilizing the Arctic regions of the USSR. In
1956 this complex was markedly expanded in connection with preparations
for the IGY.
Investigations were made:
a. By mobile scientific groups of the high-latitude arctic
air expedition, "Sever-3," which conducted complex investigations by
means of polar aviation of more than 150 points of the western region of
the. Central Arctic which had remained up to that time the least
studied (see Map of 1.956 Hi;h Latitude Arctic Expedition).
b. By the scientific research drift stations "Severnyy Polyus-
It" (North Pole-4), "Severnyy Polyus-5" (North Pole-5), and "Severnyy
Polyus-6" (North Pole-6) (see Map of Routes of "Severnyy Polyus" Drift
Stations). These scientific stations are actual drifting observatories
with 20-30 members. During 1956 the stations covered a great deal of
ground. (See aforementioned map.)
c. By the High-Latitude Arctic Sea Expedition on the diesel-
electric ship Ob' (see Map of 1956 High Latitude Arctic Expedition).
Along with Soviet scientists, three Scandinavian scientists took part
in the expedition. The expedition made complex oceanographic investi-
gations in the little-studied northern part of the Greenland Sea and
made preparations for the IGY on Northeast Island of the Spitsbergen
Arch:i.pelit~;o.
Work done in 1956 expanded knowledge of the Central Arctic.
In particular, it permitted determination of the relief character of the
bottom of the Central Polar Basin, a more accurate determination of the
direction of ice drift and currents in the Arctic Ocean, and an explana-
tion of the distribution characteristics of Atlantic and Pacific Ocean
waters in it. The work contributed to the establishment of new ideas on
the structure of the atmosphere, radiation balance, heat exchange between
the hydrosphere and atmosphere, character of the ice cover, etc.
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CPYRGHT
A bathymetric chart of the Polar Basin and magnetic maps required
by seamen and aerial navigators were made more precise by investigations
in 1956. A number of new mechanisms of the effect of magnetic storms on
radio communications were revealed. Charts of predominating surface and
deep currents in the Arctic Ocean, in connection with the northward flow
of Atlantic and Pacific waters and the atmospheric circulation, and also
the pri cLpal factors determining the rate of accretion and thawing of ice
and chant: in its permanence were defined more accurately.
As a result of investigations condnnc t e by `Iie '?::pk~dition of the
diesel-electric ship Ob', material was collected on the water- and ice-
exchange between the Atlantic and Arctic Ocean which has pract:Leal signif-
icance for solution of problems of glaciation of the polar basin and the
course of the Northern Sea Route.
As a result of operations of the "Sever-B" expedition, a repre-
sentation was obtained of the relief of the bottom of the little-studied
western region of the Central Arctic and the character of the drift ice
in this region. The direction of drift of the "Severnyy Polyus-6" sta-
tion on the ice floe carried from the coast of Canada to the region of
Wrangel Island was substantiated. Further improvement of aerial naviga-
tion procedures in the Arctic was obtained.
In 1956, automation of scientific investigation in the Arctic
was significantly increased. For observations during drifting, expedi-
tion "Sever-8" equipped drifting ice with 16 automatic radio beacons and
two automatic meteorological stations. In addition, 50 automatic current
recorders, 20 automatic radio beacons, and 30 automatic meteorological
stations were made ready for installation in the Central Arctic in 1957.
Operations were continued by the scientific drift stations in
oceanology (measurement of speed and direction of currents, measurement
of temperature and determination of the chemical composition of ocean
water, hydrobiological samplings of plankton and benthos, measurements
of depths, taking of test samples of the ocean bottom); in aerology (in-
vestigation of the composition of the atmosphere up to altitudes of
30-31 kilometers by means of regular releases of radiosondes, radar ob-
servations, and soundings of the lower atmospheric layers by helicopter);
in glaciology (observations on the changes in the character of ice, reg-
ular measurement of the depth of ice and snow, study of their physical
and mechanical properties, investigation of drift ice); in magnetology
(magnetic declination at high latitudes); in actinometry (study of radi-
ation of solar energy on the surface of the ice, snow, and water and
the penetration, in depth, of this energy into these); in seismometry
(investigation of micro-fluctuations in the body of an ice field); in
medicine (study of the physiological changes in the human organism while
drifting under polar night and day conditions, study of nutritional prob-
lems, etc.); and in ionosphere, cosmic rays, and other fields.
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";dac1;erial World of the Ocean in the Re;-:Lon of the North Pole,"
CR1F,RGH11 r:i. fs
In the yearn 19511.-1)561, i;lre Division of Marine Microbiolo,;y,
Iris Li tute of M:Lcrob.l.olo,-;y, Academy of Sciences USSR, conducted work to
ascertain the presence and d:Lstr:i.buLion of m:Lcroflora in the Central Arc-
tic, in the depths of the Arctic Ocean, and under the perennial ice packs.
Invest-!. at:i.ons covered the immediate circumpolar region and also the sec-
tor: between the North Pole and Severnaya Zemlya (195)i-1955) and between
the North Pole and the Canadian archipelago and Alaska (1956). Investi-
t;a?t.i.ons were conducted from ):.2 stations: rni.crobiolo-;ica1 laboratories were
or;ani.zecl on drift stations Severnyy Polyus-3, Sovcrnyy Polyus-4, and
Severnyy Polyus-5. 'Posts were made of layers of water at depths of 5, 10,
25, 50; 75, NO, 150, 2?00, 250, 300, 400, 500, 750, 1.,000, 1,500, 2,000,
2.500 3,000, 3,500, 11,000, and 4,300 meters, and also from the bottom
Surface.
. M.i.erobiolog:Lcal operations were conducted in the Central Arctic
for tlme first time. Investigations showed that all the layers of water
of the Artic Ocean and also the bottom surface layer is populated by var-
ious species of microor?anisms. In the process of their activity rnicro-
orj*,ar:i.snms brin;; about distinct conversions of the dead organic substance
and :i.nor_;arnic compounds meJd.nf; conditions possible for the existence of
other forms of life--plants and animals. Thus, it became evident that in
the Central Arctic, beyond the direct influence of continental and insular
run-off and at very great distances from the sites of the world ocean,
wi.tl, a rich development of life, microorganisms living under the perennial
ice packs provide a cycle of organic matter by influencing,; biological pro-
ductivity of the polar basin at high latitudes.
'.flee morphological composition of the microorganisms proved to be
most diverse in the surface layers of the water. Here, both round and
oval bacteria were found that were small and 1a.r,e disl;osed singly or in
small clumps. Along, with these, there were many bacillifoicn bacteria. of
various length: thin and thick, straight and curved. Besides these bac-
t.er:La., there occurred filiform types and yeast cells often budding. The
deeper we went the poorer the species composition, bacilli form bacteria
were found principally at great depths. Yeasts occurred at all depths.
Large vacuolized cells were noteworthy.
The general count of the microorganism population of the ocean
surface in the North Pole region fluctuates between some thousands to some
term- thousands per milliliter of water. The quantity of bacteria decreases
with depth: levels with a "special" hydrological character are the only-
e::ception. 'i"nus, it was shown that at the upper and lower boundaries of
the Atlantic Current penetrating to the North Pole region, the count of
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the microorgan:isni popi.ilat:ton increased several fold in comparison with
the upper and lower levels, i.e., to bacteria were one of the indica-
tors of the or:i.g;i.ri and dynamics of the water masses. A seasonal vari-
ability was demonstrated in the relationship of the composition of the
microorganism population of the surface layer; of the ocean near the
North Pole. It is richer in July than in September.
"Soviet Investigations In the Antarctic," by G. Avsyuk
Antarctica is the sixth continent of the earth discovered by
Russian navigators at the time of the (;lobe-circling voya'*e. 1819-1821,
of the sloops Vostok and Mirnyy under command of F. F. Bellinsgauzen
and M. P. Lazarev. It was studied very little; comparatively, only the
coast was explored; the central parts of the area were "White Patches."
Antarctica exerts considerable influence on the climatic con-
ditions and other natural processes, not only on the parts of the ocean
adjacent -to it but also on the entire world. Investigations of the
Antarctic will occupy a central position during the IGY (1957-1958).
To fully develop investigations from the start of the IGY, the USSR in
1956 began to conduct preliminary operations in eastern Antarctica in
the sector between 80 degrees and 105 degrees East longitude. Three
scientific stations were organized: one on the coast -- "Mirnyy"; and
two in the central part of Antarctica -- "Vostok" in the region of the
south magnetic pole and "Sovetskaya" in the region of the "pole of rela-
tive inaccessability." Later, the organization of three auxiliary sta-
tions was found to be necessary: "Pionerskaa-a" on the route to the
"Vostok" station; "IComsoinol'skaya" on the route to "Sovetskaya" station;
and "Oazis" in Danger [i.e., Bunger Hills]. In addition, it was planned
to conduct large expeditionary traverse investigations. The program of
operations of the USSR in the Antarctic encompasses all aspects of geo-
physical investigations and is of great extent.
Investigations were conducted by the Complex Antarctic Expedi-
tion (KAE) of the Academy of Sciences USSR. On 5 January 1956, the first
vessel of this expedition, the Ob' , arrived in the Antarctic and the first
Soviet citizens descended on the continent. On 13 February, the state
flag of the USSR was raised at "Mirnyy." Here, there were equipped 20
basic buildings; special magnetic, seismic, and aerological pavilions;
;_;eophysical, geological, rlaciologi.cal, aerological, gravimetric, aero-
photograminetric, and other laboratories: and a powerful radio station for
direct communication with Moscow. Investigations on meteorology, geo-
magnetism, and earth currents, physics of the ionosphere, seismology,
geology, glaciology, biology, gravimetry, and other branches of science
are conducted in "Mirnyy." The Complex Antarctic Expedition is equipped
with modern apparatus, mechanized land transport, and aviation. A re-
connaissance flight of the coast in the area of its operation was made
and showed important factual differences with the data of former maps
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 CPY HT `,o ff F"r Rnln~cn 1999IOQ/AS2 ? 1A_PIlP 2-OO111POOO2O 7OOO1-.
and c :pcditi.orls . A ;;cneral study of the section of the coastal belt was
made. It was establi.ohed that -there were four types of :icebergs devel-
opocl in tlhe section of operations of this expedition: slope-ice '(led-
yanyye slat,/), broken-icc (ledolomy), jutting (vyvodnyye), and shelf ice
(s11e1' fovyye lcaniki).
A study of ] r:i.,,;al.o1d. Island situated in the Davis Sea not far
from "Mirny," was made. This island is completely covered with ice lying
on a foundation that is more than 1.00 meters below sea level. In January
1;56, the largest "oasis" of Antarctica was explored, the "Oasis" of Bun-
;;ex? (Hills ], discovered b v Aneri.cans from the air in 1911.7. The "oasis"
Is composed of small hills with relative heights of up to 150 meters,
free from ice, constructed chiefly of ancient crystallic rocks. About
200 fresh- and salt-water lakes of various sizes are found in it. The
"oasis" possesses a unique microclimate warmer than the surrounding ice
cover; even in winter, because of its special character, the winds of
the oasis are free from snow. It was established that the "oasis" was
formed as the result of a special combination of relief and microclimate
conditions.
Geolo;;ical investigations of areas free of ice showed a most
complete absence, in this re`:Lon, of sedimentary rocks, even in the ma1ce-
up of -the _;lacial moraines. This forms the basis of the, assumption that
the entire area of operations of the Complex Antarctic Expedition, from
the coast to the interior of the continent, is part of an ancient crytal-
lic shield of Antarctica. '.There are a number of indications that in
Antarctica two phases of glaciation occurred, separated by a warmer period
in which a considerable decrease in the ice cover of Antarctica resulted.
Measurement of the ice thickness by seismic methods indicated that at 5
kilometers from the coast the ice thickness reached 600 meters ; at 14
kilometers, 650 meters; at 23 kilometers, 300 meters; and at 27 and 50
kilometers, 1,000 meters. Comparison of these facts with the height of
the ice surface showed that. at a distance of 50 kilometers from the coast,
bas--'c rocks underlay the glacial cover at 300-500 meters 10e1o1?1 the ocean
level. Mus, here, the glacial cover lay as if on the bottom of the sea.
It was establi.she: in the interior of the continent at hei;hts
of about 1,000 meters above sea level (about 60-70 kilometers removed.
from t;ie coast) the temperature never rises above zero and there is never
thawi n .
In fall 1956, an aerial survey was made of the coastal strip,
covering an area of about 15,000 square kilometers. Reconnaissance,
flights were made over the interior of the continent in the area of the
future "Vostok" and "Sovetskaya" stations. Here, the surface of Antarc-
tica comprises an ice shelf with an altitude of about 3,500 meters near
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the south r eorna ;ne t:i.e., l,u,;i E,? , and o .C t1!o o der :,f 4,000 In the re ;i.on
of the pole of relative Ac:co:' dirt,; k,o ' .r .al.n dt&I;a, 1-11
can be assunied that tlhto mean tempc:e.'atiire of the mouths D-1 this
rer;ion drops to bct,wicrn minus 'i0 and i j
In April, a tractor-::,led train was cl:iepa'tclte r1 to the interior
of the continent (the first winter expedition to the 1ntirie-u- of the con-
tinent in the history of antarctic stucl,y) to ore;anizc "Pionersl:ayb" sta-
tion, which was built at a he:ic;ht of 2,700 meters, 400 ki."i.orme:,terc from the
coast. Even now, interesting; data have been obtain at "Pionersk:ay'a."
In August, an absoliit minimum of minus 66.3 degrees was roc:nrde~d, the
lowest recorded temperature in .Antaxctica. The mean tem1.xr,Lture in August
was minus 52 degrees; a temperature of minus 60 degrees persisted corrtin-
uously for a week. The mean annual temperature in his region is close
to minus 40 degrees . tfl.1( w:i nd h(--,-.,e is weniker than at the
Observations at "Mirnyy" rn,alce it possible: even now to work out
a number of new conclusions; for example, they established the presence
of a previously urtkriown climatic central cyclone in Davis Sea and estab-
lished more accurately the paths of cyclones along the shores of .Antarc-
tica. Their centers pass over, or lie stationary only over the sea. The
troposphere in Antarctica both in summer and winter is colder than in the
same latitudes in the north. In contras; to the Arctic, the stratosphere
in Antarctica is higher in wins:?,r than in summer.. The zone of greatest
precipitation in Antarctica is in the coast-al sector, a belt about 1.50
kilometers wide, the northern (outer) boundary of which lies 4-5 kilo-
meters from the shore of the sea. Many clear days were observed in Ant-
arctica. Therefore, the infLw: of solar heat is compar?atively large,
but, in addition, 'there is extremely great reflection of the solar rays
from the ice surfaces (on the average, 75-80 percent), with the result
that the general inflow of solar heat is one quarter to one fifth that
of the same latitude of the northern hentispr.ere. For the region of
"Mirntyy" particularly, there are the so-cal-led. runoff [Stochnyye ] winds
blowing from the south (f.com the continent). They are caaa-acterized by
great force and recurrence. The speed of these winds rapidly decreases
during upward ascent. The runoff winds are .intensive' a i-, a distance of
350-h00 kilometers from. the coast; further it, the ins.:~:iior of Antarctica
they die out. Their distribution over the sea. is confined to a. distance
of about 10 kilometers.
II.. "Marine Biological. Operations of the Coin.ZJ.ex A;lt repL-i. )J:.cg-
,tti.
di ti on, "
The program of operations includes two basic pa.rt.s :
a. Study of the raw materials base of the .A.Zi-Larctic whalin.~;
trade. Arrangement of investigations according to this project was dic-
tated by the decrease in the supply of whales in the area where the Soviet
whaling flotilla "Sl.ava" now operates. Determination of the se sonfal
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c11utr9.Lut.1.c>i of jJ.;etil:ton and decp-sea fish, servl.n.; as food for whales
in the Pacific and Incl'itut Ocean sectors of the' Antarctic, is one prob-
1cm of l;lir? .i,uveutl.;;al?.ioxaw; another is also the qualitative and quanti-
tative character of the di.utr:i.bution of the various species of whales
arid their fecda.ni; L;rollndo In these regions.
b. Study of the zonal distribution of fauna, in the world
ocean. Abyssal fauna (of the great deeps of the world ocean) is one
of the least :i.iivest:l. atecl areas in the field of biogeography.
Ilydrobiolo;icaal investigations of meridian profiles along the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans arc of special interest, particularly dur-
ing the passage of the expeditionary ship from the north latitudes to
the .i uth and back. In the course of these operations, data will be
accumulated on the zonal distribution of deep-water fauna of the world
ocean by means of systematic catches of marine organism at various
depths. Comparison of Arctic and Antarctic continental.. shelf fauna
that have developed under ecological conditions which are similar but
which have had a different historical past is of particular interest.
In 1956, biological work was done in all the principal pro-
files of the expedition. Observations were made on the distribution
of whales (V. A. Arsen'yev). Material on phytoplankton and zooplanlcton
was collected (K. A. Brodskiy and M. Ye. Vinogradov), on phytobenthos
and. zoobenthos (P. V. Ushakov and G. M. Belyayev), and on fish (A. P.
Andriyashev and A. K. Tokarev).
a. "Phytoplanl:ton and Zooplankton," by K. Brodskiy
In the region of drift ice of the coast of Antarctica (90-
162E), there was discovered a large mass of microscopic algae (phyto-
planl:tons) coloring the water a greenish brown. At Sabrina cost [120E],
not only the wate_ but the ice is likewise colored by the a r_,ae ms.ss. By
u tili zing these algae as food, a large number of small crustoceans (co-
pepodae and euphausiacee.) developed at the ice boundaries; this agglo-
meration was discovered by the expedition, in particular, at 64 degrees
South latitude. As is known, the euphausiacea serve as food for the
whalebone whales [Mystacoceti ] . Accumulations of the crustacea occur
so densely that once the machinery of the expedition ship 0b'w s stopped,
in order to remove the mass of these crustacea from the filter pumps.
In Antarctic waters, among the cold-water organism were found zooplankton
that are iridely distributed in the tropics (salpae and other crustacea),
a phenomena analogous to that which is also observed among zoobenthos.
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arctic to Auntralia In the Of tied 1'ctic:M.c Ocean and. then
throuC;h the Indian Ocoau yields :i a t;roul, deal. of material on the lati-
tudinal tonality of deep-sea L'aunrl. TA u.dd:Ltion to an abrupt change in
the composition of the fauna, tlccro wr.u a verified and marked impoverish-
ment of plankton in the ?I;ropi.cs, in comparison with Antarctic waters.
Thus, at the shores of Antarct?:Lca the biowcr,so was composed of approxi-
rnately 3 granw per cubic meter and in the tropics- about 0.05 gram per
cubic meter, but a Greater diversity of animal species was found in
tropical plankton. As a result of ?thn investigations, a boundary was
found between the antarctic and subantarctic phyla at about Go degrees
South latitude along the profile of the Dal.ieny Islands and New Zealand.
Northward from this boundary, subantarctic plankton were encountered
with a significant admixture of 3ubtropicul species. In contrast with
that which was established in the northern hemisphere, in the southern
part of the Pacific and Indian Oceans (in the areas of the investigations
of the diesel electric ship Ob' in 1956) there were no specific fauna of
the West Wind Drift that could be sit;rri.f.Lcantly distinguished from the
oubantarctic and subtropical plankton.
b. "Zoobenthos," by P. Ushakov
Collections of zoobenthos were made at 77 oceanographic sta-
tions (g0 bottom-scooping tests and 23 trawlings).
The zoobenthos of the coast of Antarctica from 90 to 165
degrees East longitude is characterized by the abundance and tremendous
variety of species of sponges, bryozoa, and echinoderms, the principal
component of submarine landscapes in the boundaries of the continental
slope. Antarctic fauna, to a high degree, are endemic. The numerous
colonies of Cephalodiscus (of the pterobranchia group) are very specific
for antarctic and subantarctic waters, and likewise the large flat iso-
pods Serolidae. In regard to species, the fauna of the antarctic coast
botton is significantly richer in its many groups than the arctic. In
the composition of the coastal antarctic fauna, by virtue of the direct
influence of the environmental oceans, there are a number of forms of
clearly tropical appearance; these are solitary madrepore corals, numer-
ous octocorallia corals, gorgona.ceau, Echinoidea with large spines of
the family Cidaridae, and certain others. There is almost a complete
absence of crabs among antarctic fauna (they are only on subantarctic
islands).
Although the Macquarie and Kerguelen Islands are greatly
separated from each other and are divided by great depths, the shores
of these islands have very similar fauna (at low tide, numerous polychaeta
vermes, isopoda crayfish, amphipoda, and mollusks are exposed here); in
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accordance wl. th LhJ. a, I;Fiie, indicated 1.alando apparently must be attributed
to one oubantareU.c piryltirn. Accord.inf; to the bionoiriic scene, these is-
land s , in part, cull. to mind the Commander Islands [55N 166E]. For the
first time, quanti.I-.atJ.vr. Investigations of bottom fauna were made for the
antarcU.c area. The population of the bottom of the antarctic shelf is
characLor.ized by a liir;li Index of bioniaLss (for the 100-200-meter level,
the mean biomass equals 1,347 grams per square meter, for. 200-500 meters
-- '139 ,;rams per square mel;or). Nevertheless, these indexes are condi-
tioned chiefly by the rich development of nonfood groups of benthos
(sponges, bryozoa, and, others). The total, biomass decreases sharply with
depth and at 1,000 to 3,000 meters it amounts to only 1.3 grams per square
meter, about one Lenth to one fifteenth of that at the same depth in the
Boring Sea and the northwestern part of the Pacific Ocean (according to
operations of the V:Ltyaz').
A collection of tropical faum was also made in the Indian
Ocean on a meridian profile from Kerguelen Island to the Gulf of Aden.
C. "Ichthyofauna," by A. Andriyashev
Soviet ichthyolorists, while conducting their first investi-
gations, assembled collections of fish (more than 1,500 specimens) of
marked scientific interest. At present, these are being processed in the
Zoological Institute of the Academy of Sciences USSR and the Institute
of Oceanology, Academy of Sciences USSR.
Unique living conditions over long isolation from other con-
tinents led to the formation of extremely specific and original antarctic
ichthyofauna, three quarters of the species of which are endemic and be-
long to families distributed only in the antarctic area and adjacent waters
(Nototheniidae and related families). There are no actual littoral ich-
thyofat.uia on the shores of Antarctica, but at moderate depths many species
of trematomus, serving; as food for seals and penguins, are common. At a
depth of 300-3.,600 meters, a trawl line yielded various species of the
endemic-antarctic far- lies Bathydragonidae and IJ, rpagiferidae. Also taken
at the shores of Antarctica were Licodini (Zoarcidae) and sea slugs (Li-
paridae), close relatives that are widely distributed in the seas of the
northern hemisphere. Attentive study of these forms promotes further de-
velopment of the theory of intermittent bipolar distribution of marine
organisms. Of great interest are the operations at Kerguelen Island,
where three species of white-blooded fish of the family Chaenichthyidae
were successfully captured. Their blood is colorless, since in distinc-
tion from other vertebrates it is lacking in erythrocytes and hemoglobin.
The white-bloodedness of two endemic kerguelen species, Chaenichthys rugu-
sus and Ch. rhinoceratus, was established for the first time.
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h:I. tera Lure
Avsyuk, Cr. A. ; M arltov, IC. K.; and Sliumakiy, P. A., "Geol;raphical
Oboervatiot-a in t e Artl;arctic 'oaa:La,'" Izveatiya Voo oyuznor;o Geo af.
01)-va, 1956, t. t3f)
Dolyaycv, G. M., and Uaho.kov, P. V., "Certain Mechaniomo of the
Quantitative Distribution of bottom Fauna in Antarctic Waters," Dolt. Alt.
Nauk SSSR, 1956, T. 112, No 1
Drodskiy, K. A., and Vi.nol;radov, M. Ye . , "Distribution of Plankton
in the Indian Sector of the Antarctic," Tbid, 1956, T. 112, No 5
Dauer, A., "'Elio Present Glaciation of the Earth as an Icebound
Water Mass," in the book Eiszeitalter and Ge ;enwart (Ice Ace and the
Present), Yearbook, Vol 6, Hannover, 1955 (p ` 60-70)
Byrd, R. E., "Our Navy Explores the Antarctic," The National Geo-
Craphic Magazine,, Waallincton, 191E7, Vol 92, No l?
ICosack, II. P., "A New Map of Antarctica. A Survey of the State of
Mapp:Inc of the Sixth Continent," Petermanns Geo,rcra hische Mitteilun