INFORMATION ON SOVIET BLOC INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL COOPERATION - 1959

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• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 1, 1999
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 6, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

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PB 131632-52
INFORMATION ON SOVIET BLOC INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL COOPERATION - 1959
February 6, 1959
U. S; DEPARTMENT OF CO MERLE
Office of Technical Services
Washington 25, D. C.
Published Weekly
Subscription Price $12.00 for th* Series
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PLEASE NOTE
This report contains unevaluated information on Soviet Bloc
International Geophysical Cooperation selected from foreign-
language publications as indicated in parentheses. It is pub-
lished as an aid to United States Government research.
INFORMATION ON SOVIET BLOC INTLRNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL COOPERATION
Table of Contents
1. General
II. Rockets and Artificial Earth Satellites
III. Upper Atmosphere
IV. Meteorology
V. Seismology
VI. Oceanography
VII. Arctic and Antarctic
Page
1
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Book Lists Soviet Scientists Predictions for 21st Century
A Moscow datelined article appearing in the 16 January issue of the
Italian newspaper L'Unita reviews a new book just issued by the-publishing
house Sovetskaya Rossiya. The book,?Report on the 21st Century, contains
a series of articles by 29 leading Soviet scientists on scientific achieve-
ments which can be expected in the coming century.
The article contains excerpts of some of the statements, covering a
wide range of subjects.
Yuri Khlebtsevich, author of various astronautical theories, predicts
that flights to the Moon and return will be commonplace by the end of the
20th century. By the 21st Century, the Moon will become, so to speak,
the seventh continent of our planet, and the exploitation of its natural
resources will be in progress. The 'next generation of scientists must
study the :geology.: and -!meteorology. of the Moon and Mars and conduct research
on the physics of Venus' seas. Attempts to reach the planets of Saturn,
Jupiter, Uranus, and Pluto with radio-controlled rockets will be made at
the beginning of the 21st Century.
The launching of sondes into cosmic space has already begun. The
time is not far off when a manned lunar scientific station will be built.
But first, in all probability, a mobile laboratory controlled by radio
from the Earth will be used. Traveling over the surface of the Moon, this
station will continuously transmit television pictures of the adjacent
territory,, conduct research on the soil, temperature, and atmosphere of
the Moon. A similar laboratory could also be sent to Mars.
Academician V. A. Kotel'nikov, director of the Institute of Radio
Engineering and Electronics, Academy of Sciences USSR, foresees the develop-
ment of radio engineering to the point where it will be possible to trans-
mit sufficient energy through a beam of high-frequency oscillations to
operate airplane motors. A similar beam might be used . as a means d1
deflecting meteorites from the path of a space craft; in a matter of seconds
it would disintegrate the meteoritic substance.
Lev Tenkevich, Corresponding Member and president of the Committee on
Oceanography, Academy of Sciences USSR, says that the 21st Century will
see the growth of a new science, that of submarine agronomy, or submarine
genetics. Tenkevich bases his statement on the fact that the ocean is much
richer in nutritive substances than the Earth. The biological efficiency
of marine plants is equal to about 100 percent while that of arboreous
plants is not more than 5-6 percent. Man has hardly touched the oceans$
resources.
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N. Varvarov, astronautics specialist, says that glass cities with
artificial atmosphere will rise on the planets of the solar system. These
will have to furnish all the substance needed by the living organism.
The first glass city will naturally appear on the Moon. The lunar
craters seem to be predisposed by nature for the construction of this city.
An intermediate provisioning station for cosmic craft will be built there.
("Report on the Year 2,000"; Rome, L'Unita, 16 Jan 59, p 8)
II. ROCKETS AND ARTIFICIAL EARTH SATELLITES
Photograph of Artificial Comet; Soviet Scientist Reveals Details
A photograph, claiming to show the artificial comet, taken on 3 January
1959 at 0356:20 hours Moscow t..me at the Mountain Station of the Main Astro-
noiui.cal Observatory of the Academy of Sciences USSR, near Kislovodsk, by
M. N. Gnevyshev, chief of the station, appears in 18 January Pravda. The
caption states that inasmuch as an interference light filter was used, the
weak stars surrounding the artificial comet were not registered on the
photograph. The determination of the artificial comet's location with
respect to the stars, necessary for obtaining its precise coordinates, was
made with the aid of special reference marks.
A photograph of the camera which took the picture and a schematic
map of the region of the sky where the artificial comet was formed are
also shown.
I. S. Shklovskiy, Doctor of Physicomathematical Sciences, gives the
following information on the artificial comet in an article accompanying
the photographs.
The-possibility of observing the location of a cosmic rocket in space
is necessary for the determination of its o"rbit. In principal, this pro-
blem can be solved by two methods, radiophysical and optical. The first
(radiophysical) method makes it possible to determine the distance to
the rocket with great accuracy, and with less accuracy to determine its
angular coordinates in the celestial sphere. The processing of a large
quantity of like observations makes it possible with sufficient. accuracy
to determine the orbit. of the cosmic rocket.
The other, more "customary," method for astronomers for solving the
same problem.:is the optical. However, optical observations of a cosmic
rocket are accompanied by marked difficulties. The fact is that the solar
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rays reflecting from a cosmic rocket at very great distances from the
Earth will appear as a very weak star. The following example reveals how
greatly the brightness of a rocket decreases with distance. Sputnik III,
at a distance of 300 kilometers from the observer, was seen as a star of
the nth magnitude. If the distance were increased to 300,000 kilometers,
that is, a thousand times farther, the flow of sunlight reflected from
it (which is inversely proportional to the square of the distance) drops
to a millionth. This means that the satellite would appear as a star of
the 19th magnitude. At a distance of 100,000 kilometers from the Earth,
the stellar value of the satellite would be about 16.5. It is possible
to calculate the expected brightness of a rocket while it moves through
space. At a distance of 100,000 kilometers from the Earth a rocket has
a brightness weaker than the 114th stellar magnitude.
The difficulty is seen to be even greater when it is realized that
the cosmic rocket must be observed against a rather bright sky background,
as it would be near the Moon in its last quarter. Observations would only
be possible with the very large telescopes found in only the largest observ-
atories.. However,, the'realization of such observations meets with a
number of specific difficulties connected with photographing weak objects
using instruments having a small field of view under bright sky conditions.
In these circumstances, the necessity of developing a method of
increasing the brightness of the cosmic rocket by many times, if only for
a short time, arose. The idea for this method was prompted by nature it-
self through observations of comets whose brightness in some cases far
exceeds that of stars. This brightness is the result of the capacity of
gases associated with the comets to cause'intense scattering of sunlight
in separate spectral lines and bands. The bright yellow line of sodium
is sometimes observed in their spectra.
Calculations showed that the mass of gas necessary for a comet to
be visible to the naked eye at a distance of 100,000 kilometers is one
kilogram. It followed that if the cosmic rocket ejected even a small
quantity of vapor from some suitable substance it could be observed. The
substance selected was sodium because of it characteristic bright yellow
line. Calculations showed that the cloud of vapor from a mass of one
kilogram of sodium at a distance of 100,000 kilometers from the Earth would
be observed as an object of about the 6th stellar magnitude. This magni-
tude is the limit for unaided visual observations on a moonless night.
A great advantage of the sodium cloud is that it scatters light
strictly according to a wave length of 0.589 microns (the yellow-orange
part of the spectrum). This makes it possible, by using suitable light
filters, to conduct observations of the sodium cloud even if it is pro-
jected against a rather bright sky background. Such light filters decrease
the brightness of sky background intensely, while scarcely weakening the
radiation of the sodium cloud.
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A similar "comet" was created by the Soviet cosmic rocket. In creat-
ing the comet, it was necessary to ensure, in a short period of time, the
vaporization of sodium into its atomic state, since its molecules, its
compounds, and also its ions, do not possessthe capability to intensively
scatter sunlight. The vaporizer for forming the cloud of atomic sodium
produces the vaporization of the sodium with the aid of thermite, which is
ignited at a predetermined moment by a programming device.
Preliminary testing of the vaporizer's operation was done with high
altitude geophysical rockets. Sodium was vaporized in one of these experi-
ments, with a rocket which reached a height of 430 kilometers. A golden-
orange cloud formed and slowly dispersed in the atmosphere. This cloud
was visible over a very great part of the Soviet Union. Processing the
measurements of-the cloud's brightness made it possible to determine the
number of vaporized sodium atoms, which proved to be rather close to that
which can be theoretically expected in full vaporization. By analyzing
the rate of dispersion of the sodium cloud, the density of the Earth's
atmosphere at such a great altitude was determined with great accuracy.
The obtained value of density was in close agreement with the value derived
from the analysis of the braking of the artificial earth satellites. These
values, as is known, were unexpectedly high.
US experiments on sodium vaporization in the atmosphere were begun
in 1955. However, these were conducted at altitudes of 70-140 kilometers
for studying the wind at these altitudes and the chemical reactions of
gases in these atmospheric layers with sodium.
In contrast, the first experiment by Soviet scientists with the high-
altitude geophysical rocket, conducted at the considerably higher 'altitude
of 430 kilometers, led to substantially new results and made it possible
for the first time to study phenomena in the conditions of a rarefied medium.
Another important part of the project in creating the artificial comet
was the development and production of special-cameras for conduction obser-
vations of the formation of the sodium cloud. For this purpose, two series
of powerful cameras, photographic and electronotelescopic, were made. These
cameras were equipped with high-quality light filters and were located in
a number of points in the Soviet Union. When the cosmic rocket began its
historic flight, a network of ground stations. equipped with special appa-
ratus was in a state of full preparedness. Precisely at the moment speci-
fied by the program -- 0356:20 on 3 January 1959, the artificial comet was
created in several tenths of a second at the time when the rocket was at
a height of 113,000 kilometers. The cloud of sodium vapors was one hundred
kilometers in size. The best conditions for the observations were in Cen-
tral Asia, in the Caucasus, and in the Crimea. Despite the fact that cloudy
weather prevailed at the majority of the stations where the observations
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~?iere conducted, the artificial comet was successfully observed at differ-
ent points. The obtained photographs make it possible to determine the
angular coordinates of the cosmic rocket and to plot more precisely its
trajectory.
There is no doubt, says Shklovskiy, that methods for creating an arti-
ficial comet will be improved in the future. Specific ways for' this
improvement have already been outlined.
The creation by Soviet scientists of an artifitl:al comet reveals the
very important possibility of tracking the. interplanetary craft of the
future by "tracings." It will thus be possible to observe them optically
for :very great distances. ("The Artificial Comet)" by I. S. Shklovskiy,
Doctor of Physicomathematical Sciences; Mcscow, Pravda, 18 Jan 59, p 6)
Soviets to Release Published Information on Sputniks in Early 1959
According to listings in Novyye Knigi, the weekly bibliographic bulle-
tin of the Ministry of Culture USSR, two volumes presenting the results
of Soviet artificial Earth atellite investigations will be released from
the publishers in the first half of 1959. The complete citation as it
appeared in the source is given as follows:
Iskusstvennyye sputniki Zemli (Artificial Earth Satellites), No 1.
Results of investigations conducted with the aid of the first artificial
Earth satellites, Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences USSR.
Seven author's sheets; 5,000 copies; 5 rubles. Available in first quarter
1959.
Collection of articles in which the preliminary results of investiga-
tions of cosmic rays, atmospheric density, optical methods of observing
the first two satellites, and the vital activity of the animal during
satellite flight are given. For physicists, geophysicists, astronomers,
and physiologists.
Iskusstvennyye sputniki Zemli (Artificial Earth Satellites), No 2.
Results of scientific investigations obtained with the aid of Sputnik III.
Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences USSR; 5.5 author's sheets; 1
10,000 copies; 4 rubles. Available 2d quarter 1959.
Collection of articles devoted to the results of physical, meteoro-
logical and astrophysical investigations conducted with the aid of Sputnik
III and rockets. For geophysicists, meteorologists, astrophysicists
and mechanics. (Novyye Knigi, No 51, 23 Dec 58, p 4-5)
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Permanent Artificial Earth Satellites Predicted by Blagonravov
C PYRG HT Academician A. Blagonravov, writing in an article carried by the
1 January 1959 issue of Prom shlenno-Ekonomicheaka Gazeta, says that... C PYRG HT
Itbe time is not far off when the transition to interplanetary rockets wil
He also states that one of the prospects for the very near
future will be the creation of permanent artificial earth satellites.'
("The Satellite Continues in Flight," by Academician A. Blagonravov; Moscow)
Promyshlenno-Ekonomicheskaya Gazeta, 1 Jan 59, p 2)
New Soviet Films on Conquest of Space
Several new films are being made in the Central Studio for Docu-
mentary Films and the Moscow Studio for Popular Science Films.
The first interplanetary flight of the Soviet cosmic rocket is re-
flected in the documentary films "Twentieth Century," "From the 20th to
the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union," and in the
motion picture "Sputnik."
The film "Automats in the Cosmos" issued by the Moscow Studio of
Popular Science Films, acquaints the viewer with the use of rockets for
scientific investigations, with the automatic apparatus and instruments
they carry, and the principles of their operation. The apparatus carried
by Sputnik III is shown.
A film, "Four-legged Astronauts," shows how animals are conditioned
for flights to great altitudes, how Soviet scientists study their condition
and behaviour during the flights, and what conclusions can be drawn frown
this for the organization of interplanetary flights by man. Interesting
material on the new science of cosmic medicine., and the study of the effect
of cosmic conditions on the human organism are included.
Projected popular science films include "Power Station in the Cosmos,"
"How the Sputnik Speaks," and "Conquest of Space."
The picture "I Was a Sputnik of the Sun" is being ccmpleted'by the.
Moscow Studio.of Popular Science Films. ("Films on the Mastering of the
Cosmos"; Moscow, Sovetskaya Aviatsiya, 8 Jan 59, p 4)
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III. UPPER ATMOSPHERE
Low Latitude Aurora, 21-22 January 1957
A strong stam began, Cn 2L January 1957, and on the night of 21-
22 January, an intensive aurora was observed over a considerable part of
the USSR. According to reports, it was observed in Penza, Odessa, and
Kishinev. Observations conducted near Moscow at the Zvenigorod Station
of the Institute of Ph riics of the Atmosphere,, Academy of Sciences USSR
(0 = 51?1') L : 120?3' are described. The aurora began at 0030 hours.
Spectra of the aurora were photographed at the station in the 4,650-
6,600 angstromrange using SP-48 spectrographs on DH type film. Three
consecutive exposures were made in the 5,850-6,600 angstrom range with
exposure times of 10, 25, and 120 minutes; in the 4,650-5,850 angstrom
range, two were made with exposure times of 35 and 120 minutes, begin-
ning at 0105 hours. The spectrographs were aimed North at an angle of
25 degrees to the horizon, catching the diffused form of the aurora in
its field of view.
The lines of atomic oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and molecular nitrogen
were determined in the obtained spectrum. In addit,ion to the forbidden
lines of atomic oxygen (`A 5577, 6300 and 6364 A), lines of rare transi-
tions with energies in the upper-levels up to 12.98 electron volts occur
in the spectrum. The radiation of neutral atomic nitrogen is observed
in the 6,482, 6,486 and 6,441 angstrom lines. Hydrogen emission is rep-
resented... by the H a, line obtained in the magnetic horizon. From the
first N positive system it is possible to separate clearly the (6.3),
(7.4), Ld (9.6) bands. The remainder create only a certain background
increase.. The first negative Ni system of the (0.2) band 49709 angstrom
also is present. Doublet sodium lines are absent in all three spectra.
The 01 lines (AA 5577 and 6364 X) were obtained by great overexposures.
The determination of the Ha contour was greatly complicated by the
(6.3) and (7.4) bands of the primary positive system. Assuming that the
initial resolution of the main maximums of the band correspond to approx-
imately two thirds the intensity of the maximums, the blending of the H
contour was excluded. The semispace of the contour obtained corresponds
to the velocity of the hydrogen corpuscles v = t 500 kilometers per second.
The maximum intensity equals 28.4,'and, the intensity re:'uced to the semi-
space of the instrumental coutouf (3R), is equal to 73.5, which constitute
0.7 of the intensity of ?16364 A. The H oC N II ?X -5005 and N2 )l 4709
lines are.absent in the second spectrum. In the third spectrum was
taken during continuous cloudiness, on] the (0I) )1 6300 and ,6364
lines occur. The intensity of the.' X ..364 . The in this picture is equal
to 6. ("The low Latitude Aurora of 21-22 January 1957," by A. V. Mironov,
V. S. Proludina and N. N. Shefov, Zvenigorod Scientific Station, Institute
of the Physics of the Atmosphere, Academy of Sciences USSR; Moscow, Izve-
stiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Geofizicheskaya, No 12, Dec 58, pp 1)513-
1,516)
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Inclined-Incidence and Reflection Ionosphere Sound_tng
The inclined-incidence and reflection method is a new and effective,
way of investigating the condition of ionosphere. The works of N. I.
Kabanov, K. M. Kosikov, and others have shown that the method accurately
reflects the actual picture of ionosphere distribution. This method
provides valuable data which helps to improve the reliability of radio
communication, especially communication with microwave frequencies. With
the help of the inclined-incidence and reflection method it is possible
to maintain control of radio-wave communication and to monitor the operat-
ing frequencies.
The essence of the method consists is measuring the backward scatter
propagation produced by an inclined radio beam at the point of incidence
with the ionosphere or the ground surface. If a receiver with cathode-
ray scope is located in the vicinity of the transmitter, a series of
scatter-reflected. signals will be observed on the scope. The amplitude
of scatter-reflected signals depends on the transmitter pulse-power, the
gain factor of transmitting and receiving antennas, the scattering proper-
ties of the ionosphere or ground, the absorption of the ionosphere, the
sensitivity of the receiver, and some other factors.
The article describes investigation of ionosphere inhomogeneities
with the aid of the inclined-incidence' and reflection sounding method.
("Certain Problems Related to Inclined-Incidence and Reflection Sounding
of Ionosphere" by B. I. Osetrov, Moscow, Radiotekhn:L.sa, Vo 12j, Dec 58.9
pp 3-10)
Soviets Install Radiotel asc2pe at. Ussuri in Far East
A radio telescope has been installed at the station in Ussuri of the
Sun Service of the Far East Affiliate, Siberian Branch of the Academy of
Sciences USSR. It will be used for the study of signals from the lower
layers of the Sun ? s .cbr moq~lb a e,. ("From Everywhere About Everything" ;
Moscow, Izvestiya, 11 Jan 59s p 4)
Fluctuations of the Micro otructural Characteristics of a Cloud
Numerous studies of cloud microstructures by the Elbrus Expedition
of the Institute of Applied Geophysics., Academy of Sciences USSR, showed
that samples taken from a cloud differed considerably as to microstructural
characteristics, concentration, water content and the specific profile of
the drop. Detailed investigations were conducted by the expedition for an
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explanation of the lack of uniformity of this phenomenon. The results of
these measurements are described, and on the basis of statistical process-
ing, it is shown that significant space-time fluctuations of transfer
characteristics (one meter, one second) exist in clouds. The measurement
of these characteristics, it is claimed, can be used to explain the con-
nection of cloud microstructures with small scale macro structures. ("Fluc-
tuations of the Microstructural Characteristics of a Cloud,"'by L. M.
Levin, Institute of Applied Geophysics, Elbrus Expedition, Academy of
Sciences USSR; Moscow, Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Geofizicheskaya,
No 12, Dec 58, pp 1510-1513)
Thermal Radiation of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere
The transmission function of the atmosphere in the 15 micron carbon
dioxide absorption band is determined on the basis of using present-day
data. The function obtained is used for calculations of the thermal radia-
tion of carbon dioxide to investigate its relationship to changes in the
concentration of carbon dioxide and atmospheric stratification. It is
shown that the relationship of changes to concentration can be practically
disregarded. ("Thermal Radiation of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere,"
by K. Ya. Kondrat'yev and L. I. Nedovesova, Leningrad State University,
imeni A. A. Zhdanova; Moscow, Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Geofizi-
cheskaya, No 12, Dec 58, pp 1,470-1,476)
World-Wide System for.. Determining Earth Crust Movements Proposed by East
German Scientist
For the determination of the movement of the Earth's crust, an article
by a member of the East German Chamber of Technology (KdT) and of the Leipzig
Geodetic Service proposes the initiation of international cooperation in
the preparation of a network of elevation determinations (preferably under
ground bench marks) in granite blocks where no relative vertical movements
resulting from exogenic forces are to be expected. These points in the net-
work should be several kilometers apart; regular., precise measurements of
the differences in the elevations of these reference points should be plotted
on charts, and overlays should be used to follow the course of changes in
the differences in. elevation. It is suggested that these measurements and
comparisons be made at regular intervals over a long period of time and that
geologists and geodesists collaborate in the development of new methods of
plotting networks and of interpreting data so that the cyclic pattern of
the vertical movements of the. earth's crust may be discovered. ("Deter-
mining the Extent of Earth Crust Movements As the Task of Elevation Deter-
mination-of High Accuracy " by H.Kretzschmar;.Berlin, Vermessungstechnik,
No 12, Dec-58, Pp 273-2775
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Determination of Boundary Velocities
A graphic method of determining boundary velocities based on observa-
tions of the system of two traveling transverse hodographs of refracted
waves corresponding to one and the same refracting boundary is presented.
Various systems of observations on the line of a transverse profile are
described. Examples of determining boundary velocities are given. ("Deter-
mination of Boundary Velocities According to Transverse Hodograms of Refracted
Waves. I.By M. M. Radzhobov) Treat "Sredazneftegeofizika" [Central Asia
Oil Geophysics Trust], Moscow, Izvestiya Adademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Geofizi-
cheskaya, No 12, Dec 58, pp 1,491-1,503)
Tripartite Studies on Wave Velocities
The methods and apparatus used in determining group velocities of
Rayleigh waves and directions to the epicenters of earthquakes are described.
Three adjacent stations in the Caucasus equipped with Kirnos three-component
nea..mographs were selected for the experiment. ("Determination of Pzyleigh
Wave Velocities and Epicentral Directions According to Three Adjacent Sta-
itions," by Ye. F. Savarenskiy and Sh. S. Ragimov; Moscow, Izvestiye Akedemii
Nauk SSSR, Seriya Geofizicheskaya, No 12, Dec 58, pp 1,485-1,490)
Special studies of the temperature, salinity, and density of the waters,
conducted by Soviet scientists, showed that free and rapid exchanges of the
water in the oceans are fully possible and are not dependent on the depth
of a locality. This finding was again pointed out by V. G. Bogorov, Cor-
responding Member of the Academy of Sciences USSR, in reiterating the opposi-
tion of Soviet scientists to the dumping of atomic wastes into the deep-
water depressions of the oceans. Such dumping would inevitably lead to the
contamination of the waters and animal and plant organisms, and in. turn,
also the fish existing therein. This position is in opposition to that
held by many non-Russian scientists. ("The Ocean and Radioactive Wastes,"
by V. G. Bogorov, Corresponding Member Academy of Sciences USSR, Moscow,
Sovetskaya Aviatsiya, 14 Jan 59, p T+)
East German Tide-Computing Machine
An article by the head of the scientific department of the Institute
of Oceanology, Warnemuende, East Germany, on the design and operation of
various tide-predicting machines of the world gives the following informer
tion on the third German tide-predicting machine, recently put In service
in East Germany:
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In the tide-predicting machine of the GDR, there are 34 tide drives,
each of which weighs over 100 pounds. The total weight of the machine is
about 8 tons. It consists of 32,000 individual parts, of which almost
17,000 are standard parts, 2,350 are roller bearings, and 1,300 are dif-
ferent gears. The machine took over 3 years to build; the design was
done by an engineer named Below. The machine was built at VEB Lokomotivbau
Karl Marx in Babelsberg; the precision mechanical parts were produced in
VEB Geraete- and Reglerwerke (Instrument and Controller Works), Teltow,
Plant 3, "Feinmechanik Babelsberg." VEB Rtieinmetall, Soemmerda, produced
the accessory electromagnetic-mechanical printing devices which record
the final values for tides according to time and height. ("On the Con-
struction of the Third German Tide-Computing Machine," by G: Sager; Berlin,
Feingeraetetechnik, No 12, Dec 58, pp 555-559)
VII. ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC
Station Vostok
A large portion of the scientific program of.this station consists
of observations in the field of geomagnetism, the ionosphere, and auroras.
0. Kolomiytsev and P. Maysuraaze, geophysicists, are recent university
graduates. As all other members of the station, they are 'working for the
first time in such difficult climatic conditions.
According to observations conducted by P. Mitin, engineer-meteorologist,
the air temperature at the south geomagnetic pole varies between minus. 22.4
degrees Centigrade in January and minus 87.4 degrees Centigrade in August.
The mean annual temperature of the air in the station area is minus
57-58 degrees Centigrade. The winds are usually westerly. The average
rind velocity is 5 meters per second, and it sometir.es reaches 35 meters.
In June and July, i.e., at the height of the antarctic winter, there were
snowstorms during which tons of snow were carried over one square meter in
a horizontal direction during the period of one hour.
G. Shemravy, engineer-aerologist, and M. Rybchenko, radar engineer,
carry out daily vertical soundings of the atmosphere. At the south geo-
magnetic pole there are strong ground inversions. In the atmospheric
layer from. the ground surface to a height of 850 meters, the temperature
increases sharply. The strongest inversion was noted in August; at an
altitude of 860 meters, it was 38.9 degrees warmer than at the earth's
surface.
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Irtereutiiig observations have been made on the behavior of metals, fuel,
and lubricants under low temperatures. As a result of extremely low tempera-
tures, metal changes its structure and becomes coarse-grained and very brittle,
fuel cryst,t lazes, and lubricants freeze.
When the air temperature drops below minus 80 degrees Centigrade, it is
sufficient to stay outdoors for only a few seconds to get one's face or hands
frostbitten if they are not well protected.
B. Chernov, radioman, maintains steady radio contact with Mirnyy and
other Soviet south polar stations. He is an experienced radio operator, who
has worked many years in the Arctic, at the stations on Ostrov Rudol'fa,
Ostrov Vize, and Ostrov Dikson. He was one of the three brave men who made
a crossing on foot from Ostrov Gukera to Ostrov Rudol'fa over the hummocky
ice of the straits and glaciers of Zemlya Frantsa Iosifa. In his spare
time, Chernov establishes radio contacts with amateurs all over the world.
The remote-control and automatic equipment, self-recorders, and various
other instruments require a continuous supply of electric power. The electric
station operates on a 21+-hour basis. -- V. Sidorov, chief of Station Voatok.
("A Year at the South Geomagnetic Pole"; Moscow, Vodnyy Transport, 1 Jan 59;
Station Sovetskaya
The Soviet polar scientists have conducted scientific research in the
region of the pole of relative inaccessibility. The eevere frost and the
elevation of the ice sheet, which reaches 1+,000 meters, create serious dif-
ficulties.
In the Antarctic fall, i.e., in March, April, and May, the average
temperature of the air in the area of Sovetskaya was minus 61 degrees Centi-
grade. In the winter, the average temperature was minus 70 degrees Centi-
grade. The lowest temperature was recorded on 9 August -- minus 87 degrees.
The temperature observations were made in a 42-meter hole drilled in the
ice cover aul shoved that the annual mean temperature of the air in the area
of Sovetskaya must be about minus 57 degrees Centigrade.
Despite heavy frosts, observations were conducted regularly. Under 80-
degree. temperatures, G. Mayevskiy, aerologist, and G. Malikov, radio technician,
launched radiosondes, and V. Xonstantinov, who is a physiciaia.by profession,
conducted theodolite observations of the radiosondes in flight.
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Together with a group of scientific associates of the Antarctic Expedi-
tion, V. Babarykin, chief of station Sovetskaya, conducted a 2-week cycle
of complex observations at the pole of inaccessibility. The research in-
cluded meteorology, actinome*ry, glaciology, and terrestrial magnetism.
59) ere No Human Foot Has Stepped Before"; Moscow, Vodnyy Transport, 1 Jan
Some Members of Fourth Antarctic Expedition
Aboard the expedition ship Lena, sailing to the Antarctic in November
1958, are a large number of young polar specialists.
N. M. Kovalevskiy, mechanical engineer, specialist for cross-country
vehicles, will work in the transport group of the expedition. He is an
"old hand," having taken part in the Second Antar-.: is Expedition; he was
one of the leaders in the second sled-tractor train into the unexplored
regions of Antarctica.
Another veteran of the Antarctic is A. P. Kepitsa, senior scientific
associate. During the first expedition, he conducted ice studies. On his
return to Moscow, he prepared a report on his collected materials. Recently
Kapitsa defended his dissertation and received the title of Candidate of
Geographical Sciences.
V. V. Gavrilov, a young doctor, is traveling to the Antarctic for the
second time. His specialties are therapeutics, surgery, and stomatology.
Ye. Ya. Yevseyev, meteorologist, is also going to Antarctica for the
second time. This time he will work not in Mirnyy, but at the new station,
Lazarev.
Among members of the Fourth Antarctic Expedition are a number of
Komsomols: M. A. Kanash, aviation technician; R. G. Skrynnikov, junior
scientific associate and geophysicist; N. M. Komarov, mechanic and tractor
driver; and S. B. Ukhov, A. V.Krasnushkin, and V. V. Viskov, 'Junior
scientific associates. ("Young Explorers of the :Antarctic"; Moscow,
Vechernyaya Moskva, 29 Oct 58)
OW Unloads in Mirnyy
After cutting its way through the ice for 5 days, the Ob' was finally
moored to the edge of the fast ice, 3 kilometers from Mirnyy. The ship was
unloaded 2 days sooner than had been anticipated.
Following the unloading, a new cargo from Mirnyy Was delivered to the
ship for loading and for transportation to the station Lazarev, which is to
be established in the near future. "Ob' in '
lk Jan 59) Mi~WY' ; Moscow, Izveatiya,
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