INFORMATIOIN ON SOVIET BLOC INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL COOPERATION - 1959

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00141R000200600001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 2, 1999
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 27, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

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1 II
PB .13,1.632..59
INFORMATION ON SOVIET BLOC INTLRNiLTIONAL GEOPHYSICAL COOPMUiTION
March 27, 1959
U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Office of Technical Services
Washington 25, D. Co
Published Weekly
Subscription Price $12.00 for the Series
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PLEASE NOTE
This report presents unevaluated information on Soviet-
Bloc activities in the International Goophyni.cal Coopera-
tion program from foreign-language publications as 'indi-
cated in parentheses. It is published as an aid. to United
States Government research.
"INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL COOPERATION" PROGRAM --
SOVIET-BLOC ACTIVITIES
Pat;c
I.
Rockets and Artificial Earth Satellites
1
II.
Upper Atmosphere
1
III.
IV.
V.
Oceanography
Giaciolo y
Arctic and Antarctic
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? 5~:,dov Comments on Pioneer IV
An interview with Academician L. I. Sedov, in which the launching
of Lh,_ '.,3 Moon probe, Pioneer IV, was discussed appeared in 8 March
Pravda. Sedov congratulated the US scientists and engineers on the CPYRGHT
CPYRGHT wchievement . The balance of the interview 13 an expansion of the follow-
ing statement )y Sedov: 717 5 by side with the launching of large rockets
similar to th Soviet co,iic rocket [Mech-Lal into the cosmos, the lounch-
ing of _mall Fioneer"-to rockets for scientific research operations is
very useful ("On the Launching; of a Cosmic Rocket Toward the Moon by CPYRGHT
the US; Interview With Academician L I. Sedov"; Moscow, Pravda, E3 Mar 59)
Johnston Island Firings Suggested as Cause of Low-Latitude Aurorae by Soviets
An interview with Professors I. S. ShlcJ.ovskiy and V. I. Krasovskiy-
on the newly discovered radiation belts appeared in a recent issue of
Izvestiya.
Investigations with artificial earth satcl7 itcs led to the discovery
of a completely new phenomenon, a "corona" of the Earth, an accumulation of
fast charged particles beginnirig at an altitude of about 500-1,000 kilo-
meters, . The great majority of these particles are electrons possessing
energies of several thousand to hundreds of thousands electron volts.
The zones where the fast charged particles are concentrated are clearly
defined and the ccncentration of particles in them is so large that this
phenomenon was registered bj several groups of researchers, even by those
whose instruments were assigned to other problems, It is possible to call
this phenomenon the "corona" of the Earth, analogous to the corona of the
Sun, as it is also composed of charged particles.
The zone of greatest concentration of these charged particles reaches
seven to eight earth radii from the Earth's surface. This was established
in experiments on the Soviet cosmic rocket by S. N Vernov, Corresponding
Member of' the Academy of Sciences USSR, and A. Ye. Chudakov, Candidate of
Physicomathematical Sciences. This discovery, say Shklovskiy and Krasov-
skiy, is a great achievement of Soviet science.
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The zone of charged particles consists of two regions. The first
:: gJ.on is near the Earth's surface and is located mainly over the com-
pLLr.atively low latitudes of the globe. The concentration of particles
iu3ide this region is not the sane. It reaches a maximum at an alti-
tude of about 10,000 kilometers.
The second region has a considerably greater extent, reaching an
altitude of JE0,000-50,000 kilometers and embraces almost all of the
Earth. Here the concentration of charged particles is greater than in
the "lower" region. It also has a maximum where the number of particles
per unit volum,-~ is a hundred times larger than at the edges of the region.
From earlier published results of investigations conducted in arti-
ficial earth satellites it is known that the particles in the first "low"
[inner-belt] region have a considerably greater energy than in the sec-
ond region [outer belt].
The discovery of these zones of charged particles is of great in-
terest not only for astrophysics and geophysics but it is important also
because manned cosmic craft must fly through it, and it is necessary to
know what effect these radiations can have on living organisms.
Shortly after this phenomenon was discovered, fears were expressed
concerning the danger this zone, with its high concentration of charged
particles, would have for future cosmonauts. Electrically charged par-
ticles striking the shell of a space ship will produce X-rays during
deceleration, which, in certain doses, are fatal to a living organism.
The investigations conducted by the Soviet cosmic rocket showed
that this danger is less than originally supposed, but, nevertheless,
certain protective measures are necessary to safeguard the crews of
future cosmic craft from X-radiation.
Several different viewpoints on the origin of this accumulation of
charged particles exists today.
S. N. Vernov and A. I. Lebedinskiy, Soviet scientists, consider
that these charged particles are formed as a result of neutron decay
arising in the comparatively low layers of the atmosphere from the
bombardment of primary cosmic rays. Protons and electrons are among
the products of this decay. Under certain conditions, these charged
particles cannot leave the region in which they are found but become
"prisoners" of the Earth's magnetic field. The accumulation of charged
particles in such a magnetic trap also explains their increased concen-
tration.
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1'z'r~l'c ;lilcl.ov;;kiy and. K.rLLuOVr.;k.Y ari_! duvelopant; another theory on
lit uat.ur? of the "corona" of' the l.,;arth, as are a number of other in-'
,a~:itatorc. Th.L:, opinlon holds that fact cluetrons found in this zone
'LVI.' nothing in common with cosmic rays., `. hey arise in the uppermost
1.:i,yers of thO atmosphere at distances of' several earth radii because of
f l)(2 action of accel.eeating processes which are found at these altitudes.
Al thoi.i;;h the details of this acceleration process is still, not clear, it
appears that the deciding :factor in it is the interaction of the Earth's
magnetic field and the flow of charged particles (corpuscles) emitted by
the SLUn. The interaction of the Earth's magnetic field and the disturb-
sLreLurnc of so].or particles and solar fields creates favorable condi-
r"i ons for th,., acceleration of the charged particles.
According; to the Vernov-Lebedinskly theory, these particles enter
the trap of the Earth's magnetic field later on. However, Shklovskly
'uici Krasovslciy, consider that at times, under the energetic influence
of the Sun, such a trep would be partly opened also in the regions ad-
joining the Earth's poles, and the fast electrons would burst forth into
the lower regions of the atmosphere causing aurorae. Thus, the phenomena
of aurorae and magnetic storms, -the nature of which was only guessed at
for a very long time, becomes more clearly understandable thanks to the
discovery of zones of fast charged particles.
Particles with a much higher energy are found over the tropic belt
of the Earth in the first "low" zone. It is suggested that this zone
could have an. artificial. origin.
This theory is based on the fact that the testing of nuclear weapons
by the US at high altitudes in rather low latitudes (Nevada and the Pa-
cific ocean) coincided with the appearance of aurorae in this region.
The case of high altitude nuclear bomb tests over Johnston Island and
.he appearance of aurorae some 3,000 kilometers away., which was reported
in the English magazine Nature, is presented as supporting this theory.
The fact that the aurorae were seen in the very region of the globe
where they almost never occur, and that the place of the explosions and
the place of the aurorae lie on the same magnetic force line is con-
sidered -to be very important. This led the author of the article[Nature]
to conclude that the unusual aurorae were caused by charged particles
formed by the radioactive decay of the products of atomic explosions.
Shklovskiy and Krasovskiy add that the products of high-altitude
nuclear explosions in the low l.atit~udes have another fate, since the
s tructur. e of the magnetic field in these places is different and "sucks"
the charged particles into interplanetary space.
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The phenomenon, reported in the article in Nature clearly indicates
I,hal: during high altitude nuclear explosions in the southern latitudes,
::tnormous quant:L ties of electrons are formed which are capable of pene-
tratinO; to trrcai, altitudes. Part of these will accumulate in the trap
of the Earth's magnel:ic field. In particular, if such explosions occur
over Nevada, the electrons can ascend to an altitude of about 10,000
kilometers, that is, enter into the first "low" region.
Shklovskiy and I&asovakiy claim that their calculations indicate
that several such high altitiv3.e explosions are fully adequate for the
formation of a region of fast charged particles.
They say that it is premature to conjecture on the effect this
zone has on geophysical processes on the Earth, but it cannot be dis-
counted that it can have this [aurorae] or another effect on the at-
mosphere. This circumstance again supports the correctness of the
position of opponents of experimental nuclear explosions and the use
of nuclear weapons in general. ("'Corona' of the Earth," Interview
With Professors I. S. Shklovskiy and V. I. Krasovskiy; Moscow, Izves?-
tiya, 8 Mar 59, p 6)
News in Cosmic Ray Studies
Excerpts from a newspaper article under the above title follow:
"...It is now possible to give information on cosmic rays close
to the Earth and at distances over 100,000 kilometers from the center
of the Earth. The first illustration shows the dependence of radia-
tion intensity on distance from the Earth's surface.... It is evident
that at distances greater than nine times the radius of the Earth, the
intensity is practically constant. Analysis of the composition of
cosmic radiation in interplanetary space showed that almost all par-
ticles have energies measured in the hundreds of millions of electron-
volts or greater. Quite different conditions exist close to the Earth,
that is, at distances of several radii of the Earth. The graph shows
that the radiation hazard is hundreds of times greater than in inter-
planetary space. Analysis of the radiation in this region showed the
presence of X-rays caused by electrons bombarding the container of
the scientific apparatus.
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1.1, uaci t.hu:.: ol):;ccrvc J that, a lar?';c rl:unl?c:r o(' c.tleut) orl; revolve aI'cI .ud
t'IQ 1',(LT't",ll U. ti t}:L ::i tfl,llc,:':, U) to ''1(,00t 1;L.l , As r' r??r i
up ~ ,;c~tn?: to the cner~,,; of t le^c
l _'c ~;rort the rocket: nhowcd that. JA, VIII!, Only 10,000-100, 000 rae c Iron -volt,: .
Ou.l'' rl thin layer' of maf.;crit~.'1 is rc:'quir.oil to absorb electrons of such 1oai
-;/r, Jo 0r:4'r:use aL;ains; thu istrlirl'u1 ci'ft'c t of such rodi.. t ton. is po,~sib.le
As th .Ll.l.ur;traLion shows, the int:elrsity of costa;: rays is Very low a'tgroat
i.;it,otlccs from the Earth. T.l'her,u is no bani s then for fearing; raLdia'ti.on s~.c1_??
l1.."':3 in cxt;anir:rns l;hicll will. fly to o'tlior h larlcts. It should not; bo "'or of course, thu1; o;;piosioiiJ Iiii'r:equutl't1.y Ot cL1]' on the uut! The ?l i
then becomes a Sow,cu oi' ccsmic rUv
,-ors and tll,_ ./hole solar system is f:i1,.ed
wl. ll deal;}7--i1oaJ..ing radiatioIl, The "Lin was in a relatively quiet L~Ltr clur-
int_ the flight of the Soviet, roLico . Urld.c'r such conditions, the road to
intorpianetasy travel is open,
The cosmic rocket indicates). that the concentration of particles ill
creases sharply at greater d.io Lances from the Earth. There are 700 times
more particles at 15,000 lcilome'tcrs than at 100 l;ilot;Ieters, on the same
line of force, This means tt]a.t only ene out of 700 particles at an altitude
of 15,000 kilometers reaches the .l.ow al ti'tudes and that all the remaining h99
oscillate along the line of force, moving from one hemisphere to the, other
end not reaching lower altitudes.
It has 'thus been extperimenta:Lly proven that particles move in an osci.l-
ir.Ltory suction around the Earth. They wander c]: bout for a long time, caught
in the magnetic trap created. by the E,:;r th''s magnetic field.. These phenomena
are similar to those in which physicists are attempting to create thermmriu.
clear reactions.
Thus ' ses the unique aw-eole of ~articles which we call ",corpuscular
radiation 11 't'he following hypothesis has been given as to the cause of this
.rac ia."-ion: the earth become:, sou-cc of nuetrons under the action of cos-
CPYRGHT mic rays; the neutrons 'Partially decay on flying away from the Earth
hus
T
arise the electrons ,and protons he'' d in the mwngetic trap close to the
earth..
Similar a-reoles should ecist around other heavenly bodies possessing
matrnetic fields. Only cosmic roci,et:s can give the answer to the question.
(''Tlews In Cosmic Ray Studies," "by S. llernov, Corresponding Member o: the
Academy of Sciences USSR, and. A, Chud.~clcov, Candidate of
I'i]ysicot sashematic l':
Sciences. Moscow, Fr:i--Lia, hay" 500, is h )
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Cosmic Ray Studies in the Yakutsk Cosmic Ray Laboratory
The Laboratory of Cosmic Rays, Yakutsk Affiliate of the Academy of
Sciences USSR, is conducting a series of invetigations during the IGY
period in the field of variations in cosmic rays. Some results of these
operations, the apparatus, and the methods of observation are presented
in source.
The city of Yakutsk (51.0 geomagnetic latitude 193.8 E, 100 meters
above sea level) was selected because of the particular temperature re-
gime over the central part of the Yakutsk Republic and the favorable
geophysical location of Yakutsk, which lies on the same meridian as-that
on which the Bukhta Tiksi (to the north) and Irkutsk (to the south and
somewhat west) stations are located.
The program of operations being carried out during the IGY by the
Laboratory of Cosmic Rays, Yakutsk Affiliate, Academy of Sciences USSR.
provides for the creation of complex recording apparatus ensuring con-
tinuous measurements of variations of the various components of cosmic
radiation in a wide interval of the energy spectrum, ensured by the use
of these instruments, and the detailed study of the results.
Measurements of the total intensity of cosmic rays with the aid of
portable and light instruments launched into the stratosphere in sound-
ing balloons are made for establishing the possible correlations be-
tween the intensity of the total components of primary radiation and
solar activity.
Soundings are made simultaneously in Yakutsk, Moscow, and Murmansk
two to three times a day. This work is performed jointly with the
Physics Institute imeni P. N. Lebedev, Academy of Sciences, USSR, under
the supervision of S. N. Vernov, Corresponding Member of the Academy of
Sciences USSR.
The study of variations in the intensity of the low energy component
of primary cosmic radiation is ;anducted using standard automatic ap-
paratus, the neutron monitor. In the first stage of the work, it is
proposed to obtain information on the correlation of variations of the
low energy components of primary cosmic radiation with the activity of
the Sun and with geomagnetic effects. In the future, the study of these
relations as a whole, with variations of other components, presents spe-
cial interest for investigations of the energy spectrum of particles de-
termining the different types of variations. Work along these lines is
conducted together with NIZMIR (Scientific Research Institute of Terres-
trial Magnetism, the Ionosphere, and Radio Wave Propagation) of the Min-
istry of Communications USSR.
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The investigation of variations of the mu-meson components of cos-
mic rays near sea level is also conducted.
Underground investigations of the variations of mu-meson components
of' cosmic rays are conducted in the underground laboratory at Yakutsk.
This measurement of the intensity of the hard components of cosmic rays
is made with the aid of several GS-60 counter telescopes connected with
triple coincidence circuits. These studies were made by the Laboratory
of Cosmic Rays, together with the Mcscuw State University.
The investigation of variations in the frequency of the appearance
of extensive atmospheric showers of cosmic rays [shAL] is also part of
the program of work at Yakutsk.
Observations of cosmic rays were begun at Yakutsk from the first
day of the IGY, 1 July 1957, using ASK-1 counter telescopes, small ap-
paratus for extensive atmospheric showers and registering the frequency
of primary particles with an energy of 3 . 1.015 electron volts, and an
electron monitor.
A cubic -t-elescope was placed in operation at Tiksi on 20 August 1957;
an ASK-2 camera was first used the following December; and a large ShAL
apparatus registering particles with an energy of 7.1015 electron volts,
on 1 January 1958. Stratospheric measurements were begun in December
1957.
Investigations of variations in the intensity of the different com-
ponents of cosmic rays during periods of magnetic storms characterized
by an abrupt beginning and gradual growth, showed that these storms exert
a perturbing action on primary particles possessing energies of 80-170
billion electron volts. Thus, instruments located at a depth of 60 me-
ters of water equivalent registering mu-mesons created by the more en-?
ergetic primary particles did not record changes in intensity during the
period of magnetic storms.
As a result of other work, it was discovered that magnetic storms
having abrupt beginnings were accompanied by sharp decreases in the in-
tensi.ty of the hard and neutron components of cosmic rays. Preliminary
calculations show that this effect occurs as a result of the flow of
primary particles in the energy interval. having an effective limit of
not less than 80 billion electron volts.
It was also established that in the period of magnetic disturbances,
2-Ii days after the sharp decrease in the intensity of hard components
of cosmic rays, the amplitude and phase of diarnal variations also
change rapidly in comparision with a magnetically quiet day.
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Preliminary results of the work wore presented to the VI Plenum of
Lhe Corrunicsion on Meteors and Comets of the Astronomical Council, Academy
of Sciences USSR, In Odessa 14-16 November 1955. ("Photographing Me-
Leors and Their Spectra in Natural Color," by I. S. Astapovich, Insti-
tute of Physics and Geophysics, Academy of Sciences Turkmen SSR; Ashkha-
bad, Izvcstiya Akademii Nauk Turlanenskoy SSR, No 5, 1958, Meteornyy I3yul-
l.eten', pp 107-108)
Radio observations of meteors were organized for. the first time in
Ashkhabad by I. S. Astapovich in November 1944 and continued during the
period of the Perseids in 1945-1946. These observations were paralleled
by visual observations and with listening to meteor radio noises with
headphones connected to the radio receiver. Radar observations of the
Perseids on a 4.2 meter wave length, together with visual and photographic
observations conducted from 1947, made it possible to determine the slant
distance of the meteors, their linear height, and also to find the height
of trails and the height of meteors in the principal classes. This work
was continued in 1948, until interrupted by the 6 October earthquake. It
was begun again in 1952 on the more powerful radar apparatus of another
station.
Radio observations of the Orionid in 1953, which reached their maxi-
mum on 22 October, detected 190-220 radio meteors per hour on a frequency
of 10-11 megacycles during the predawn hours. Quite unusual results were
obtained on a subcritical frequency in December 1953 during the expected
maximum period of the Geminids. At 0500 local time, in the apex of the
radiants, the number of radio meteors per minute reached 1.20. Six thou-
sand radio meteors were photographed on motion picture film, some frames
showing 6-8 meteors simultaneously. At a peak power of several tens of
kilovolts on a wave length of 33 meters, the minim= zenith brightness
of the meteors was +10 stellar magnitude. This work was all conducted
under I. S. Astapovich.
Work on this same apparatus was resumed in 1956 by Yu. A. Inozemtsev,
G. A. Nasyrov, and V. Mollakov. The work was continued at the suggestion
and under the direction of I. S. Astapovich.
The transmitter used had a pulsed frequency of 50 pulses per second,
a ;pulse duration of 200. microseconds., and a peak power at pulse of 20
kilovolts. Recording was made on an E0-4 oscillogral-h with A-scope pres-
entation. A transmitting rhombic antenna with a clearance height of
11.3 meters was used. Each side of the rhomb was 41 meters. The re-
ceiving antenna was a horitontal symmetrical dipole. Observations were
made from 0100 to 0600. Visual observations were made, "splashing" of
the images was noted, particularly stable images, and groups of meteors
were observed, and separate images were photographed on motion picture
-9-
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f ilrn with a speed of !40 millimeter's per minute. This speed was found to
be inadequate and the radio meteor's obstructed by noises. The diurnal
maximum was au 0500 and the, ab _:olua.te maximum was on 22 October, coincid-
inLr, with optically observed maximum of the Orionid shower. Several. groups
of rnetcor were noted. No effect was noted on. the diurnal variation of
the E. layer from the sporadic Orion.ids.
J
The linear density of electron concentration oL was calculated. If
this is compared with the distance, then, naturally, increased a cor-
responds, to larger slant distances.
Several, tables are given in the article: Distribution of meteors
in relation. to duration; particularly stable images lasting over 30
seconds; the simultaneous groups of meteors noted:, the distribution of
radio images in relation to noise le-;el. ("Radar Observations of the
Orionids at Ashkhabad in .1.956," by Yu. A. Inozemtev, G. A. Nasyrov, and
V. Mol.la.ltov, I:r titu.te of Physics and Geophysics , Academy of Sciences
`i'urlanen SSR; Ashkhabad, Izvestiya Alcademii Nauk Turkmenskoy SSR, No 5,
1,9 58, Meteornyy :Byull.eten.', pp 1,08-1.09)
Geological. Results of Vityaz' Expedition
During 1957 and the first hart of 1958, the research vessel Vityaz'
of the Institute of Oceanology,, Academy of Sciences USSR, conducted geo-
logical research in the western Pacific as a. continuation and expansion
of the studies of the F'ar Eastern seas and the northwestern part of the
Pacific ocean , which had been made 'by the Vi.tyaz' during the preceding
year. The investigations during 1957-. 958 were conducted within the
framework of the IGY. Daring the first. 1.957 voyage (the 24th voyage)
of the Vi.tyaz', which lasted from 1.7 April to 20 May 1.957, seismo-acoustic
studies of the earth's crust were made in. the area of the Sea of Japan.
The second 1957 voyage (25th voyage) of the Vityaz', from 28 June to
11 October 1957, included a system of survey runs in the ocean area, to
the west of the 1514th meridian, from the shores of the Molucca and Phil-
ippine Islands to the shores of Japan on the north to New Guinea, in the
south. The third (26th) voyage of the Vl.tyaz', from 5 November 1957 to
27 February 1.958, was along two great circle (meridional) paths (for
example,, along the 172d meri.0i.on east and the 172d meridion west) and
included almost the entire geographic area of the ocean from the tem-
perate to the tropical and, equatorial. zones, from the shores of Japan
on the north to New Zealand in the south.
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in the two J'1ual voynL;ec;, I ._;co:Lod;J.cal researc;ll vac; oncJ.t.tcC~.,c.l iu con-
ju.uu: Lion with ocenuolot Lrn,J. worlc, and I.dic oL~c.rcti'L Lc,nr; brr,uuc: as L'r melt'
complex. TI'hi.s wort: wau done In the roi:].onrint, primary L! ;rc e I;J uus : 11
,:c t'udJ.y of Lite c.lndcrwatcr (bottom) roliof, the coil ec: L-ion of stunpJ.eS of
t;lu aLinosplicric and water cusprnuioii, t;hu collection or samplus of
boLLom deposits and rock core snjnplc.:s, scJ.cmc;-c~.eoustic sou,lchinL;;.; of
:Loose dd.epocito, and the phoLoL;raphinc of the bottom of the sea. 71'10
eolluctcd. data wore also sub,jcctcc.l. to a prcl:i;ainary processing.
According to data collr_cLcd on the expeditions of the Vi'Lyaz',
the th:Le lc:;s of the friable deposits in the deepest par[-, of the Sea
of Japan is 1-`( kilometers. Below this lies noel., the elasticity of
which is close to that of basalt. This rock layer is about 7 kilo-
motors thick. Below this rock layer is. the i.iokhorovicic stratum,
and the total thickness of the earth's crust here in appr. o.:ima'cly 9
kilo] toter. s. The Mokhorovicic strattmi clips toward the islands of Japan
where, according to the data on surface invectigat:Ions, the thickness
of L,.-,c crust is 11.0 kilometers.
Investigations of the open sea indicated that the surface of the
ocean bed is divided by a system of long, wide ridges into a series
of depressions or trenches. Widely distributed over the whole area
of the bottom are underwater mountains of volcanic origin. However,
the greatest concentration of these mountains is associated with the
ridges. On the flat areas of the bottom of the trenches and on the
slopes of the rid.tges, zones of tectonic dislocations, extending for
thousands of kilometers, were detected.
Investigations of the transitional zones led to a more accurate
representation of the deep-water trenches of the western limits of
the ocean and of their maximum depths. The Vityaz' measured depths
of 10,990 meters in the Marianna trench and 10,840 meters in the Tonga
trench, which are 'the deepest known areas of the Pacific. Deep
trenches and luZderwater ridges of island arches comprise a morpho-
logical complex, which is characteristic of the outer portion of the
zone of transition. The bo'?,-'1of the basin of the zone of transition
comprises a multiplicity of 'tectonic features. The accumulation of
sediments leads to a leveling of the original relief, with intensive
filling-in of depressions. The morphological distinctions between
various island arches and depressions, and also the distinctions be-
tween the many tectonic features of the bottom of the depressions
and. the degree of subsciuent leveling of it by dcpcs.i.ts, indicates
the successive stages of development in the various sections of the
zone of transition. For example, the trench of the Solomon Sea,
the Philippine and Fiji trenches represent apparently :Loss developed
sections of the zone of transition than the trenches of the Bering,
Okhotsk, and East China seas.
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y i,.(.' In L1tc. rOccriJ1
rej;t'c:,;,inl:.; I,lt,: c:r:u,uLc1 rrtl,:i.c cILJ.'1.'c rcru:c:: Ln Lti'. t'_,,t,_ o:L' fcr'lnaLiorl r.E1' ne ii-
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crer,:?J.c,rt c?1' clclc:r r;r;ilLnu:ulr.t^:'y ur:.u;:.;cc. An irnl;r.rla~all 1'o.l.c in the r,eclimcnLury
rtcc, im1111, Lien an .l tlut clev' :1. ?';uuc. n t c.,;f' l,hc' bo t lain rc:, icl' I.,; playoO, by the
lion :;onl;r_LI L;r _u,;;1,:c't c:c.C u,'idLurclltury mat.umiaa_ ullc.l, the inavcnrc:rlt? of the water
rion,t' tilc 1)0 I.Lcrn rand of 1,11,x? h:LL.."Ly rnc?blle layer cC ccnc:crlt:rated. ruspenc;lon.n
oi' t Lii.nc; lcrtr L, i cac: ;; , rtncl n`r :x: 1:rc;1: c:nr.;.[.oil - utr uu1'rel?1I,r orir;ina't?J.ng
at the c;lotec of t iir,le wn.bi c:levt,,i,Iott:J and M. Llic 'Lrt,c.r; of in1ando'. The
uccl.iltlentU; of dCi'r1-.wal;JT' t.T _ceit r; U117.~~'CT'Gal.! y JJnLaia rctthc,r iart e lamountc
of, cc,urnr:l.y fruUiieu1tc:r:1.. rnn.I-crLa1, ort:;unic rcmnanL5, a.11ci, voJ..carot,onic ma?-
i,cr.lal. ('`Gcclogicnl Iic.nil.tc; o!' the EL:pcdita.onn of the Vityaz ' in the
Wes I;ern Part of the P;1.cf:"ic Ocean;" by r,;. B. Udirltrnev., 7.3viu17.rtccn' Mnnknv-
skor':o O'b hcht-~s tva T?r. roil.,, r, Utdel. Ge cloLrr?lclac.ule7.y l5
.; . ...c: / , Teo rN, l)cS,
PFD r `.i~'~l:; S)
Manuat..L for Studying _the Mechanical and Phyr;i0al Properties of Ice
~t M??pacc manual, :I:'zuchoniye Mekban1.chcslcilch i.rizi.cheskilth Svoyvst_y__
L'd,t Rul:ovodatvo [i4raxltlal .f.'c'r Sttulyin~ lair; ldeckin,n .ctiL and 1''Aaysical Prol.-
er{ics of Ice was pT'c_t'ared by the working, G'cup on L;l.aciolo(?y, Inter-
departmental C--cmm.Ltl:r e for the Conduct of the International Geophy_,ica1
Year USSR.
The "Jurpose of the wcork is, to set forth the most effective method::
of n tudying Lhe strut t;u~'`~, phase state, and the thermal and mechanical
1r,roperties of ice and. In i',r.;.t, of snow.
In. the study of i.c'e it. is necessary to take. Into account all. factors
having an irf'auen.~e on its 1 rc,I1 T ties. The chief of these are the thermal
regime. the mit;T'ation of 1,'a,tter in liquid and gatseecus form and even. in a
solid state, the .C.orosity, and the phs+..e state.
In ;.t;udying the mechanical _u:'cpec't?ics of ice, it is necessary to know
its structure, since the strength of ice cr,ystljLs has a sharply defined
antsotro y. In additi an., the mechanical pro.,aer. ti.ea ,'::r'e determined to a
considerable degree by the content of -uxifrozen water (brine) in the ice
and the presence of lyres. The pnase and chemical composition. of ice, in
turn, depends on the temperature and. the processes of migration. Which
of 'the indicated and phenomena have a dominating effect on the
properties being studied i.s specially determined fo:t' each s;aecific case
inasmuch as the condition.': r,;` the formation, the influence of the sur'-
rotulding media, and the inten i'ty of the processes for different forms
of' ice differ from one aac_:ther.
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The manual is divided into four parts: (1) Methods of Studying Ice
;;trucLurrco; (2) Measurement of the Density and Phase Composition of Ice;
(3) General Ina Lruc tiotiu for Testing Ice for Strength; and (4) Methods
of Studying the Thermal Properties of ice. (Izucheniye Mekhanichcokikh
i Fi.:icheskikh Svoyoty L'da- Rukovodstvo) Moscow, 1957, Publishing House
of the Academy of Sciences USSR, Chi pp)
V. ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC
Drift Station Discovers new Submarine Elevation
On 15 February, the drift station Severnyy Polyus-6 passed over a
considerable elevation of the ocean bottom which had not been recorded
previously on any maps.
The abrupt decrease in depth from 4,321 to 2,862 meters was re-
corded on 14 February, and on the next day, the depth was only 730 me-
ters. At this time, the station was at a point 86 54 N and 61 40 E,
about 560 kilometers north of Zemlya Frantsa Iosifa.
The discovered submarine elevation is, so far, the highest eleva-
tion of the Arctic Ocean bottom encountered during the entire drift of
Severnyy Polyus-6. Even in mid-June 1958, when the station was drift-
ing over the Lomonosov Range, in the area between Novosibirskiye Ostrova
and the North Pole, the minimum depth recorded was 1,043 meters. ("An
Interesting Discovery"; Moscow, Vodnyy Transport, 17 Feb 59)
Official Transfer of Oazis to Poland
In accordance with the decision of the Soviet government, the sci-
entific research station Oazis, 360 kilometers from Mirnyyy, has been
transferred, without compensation, to Poland.
Several days ago, the members of the Polish Antarctic Expedition,
who arrived on the Mikhail Kalinin, were transported by planes and heli-
copters to their destination.
The official. transfer ceremony took place on 23 January, at 1430
hour's Moscow time. The transfer deed, which was written in Russian and
Polish, was signed by Tolstikov in behalf of the Main Administration of
the Northern Sea Route, and by Rozycki in behalf of the Polish Academy
of Sciences.
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Irr ~eininslci, chief of the Polish Antarctic Expedition, expressed the
^lncere gratitude of the Polish ucienticitn for the friendly act of the
;;~,vi et &overnrnent..
The station has been named "Station Dobrowolski in Oazis." ("Sta-
tion Oa.zis Is Transferred to Polish Scientists"; Moscow, Sovetskaya
Aviat,~iya, 25 Jan 59)
Ob' Arrives at Coast of Queen Maud Land
Af ter separating from the Mikhail Kalinin at the edge of the polar
ice, the Ob' headed for the Australian station Mawson, where a ship-
ment of gasoline was unloaded.
On the way to the site of the future station Lazarev, all the ex-
pedition members aboard the ship were making intensive preparations
for the principal stage of their voyage. The geologists checked their
equipment and reviewed the routes for reconnaissance expeditions to
the mountain areas. The AN-6 plane and KI-4 helicopter were made ready
for operation.
The Ob' is now near the shore of Queen Maud Land. The most labor-
consuming part of the operation will be the unloading of 900 tons of
various freight for the new station. ("0b' at the Shores of Antarctica";
Moscow, Vodnyy Transport, 14 Feb 59)
Site for new Station Selected on Glacier
According to the program of the IGC-1959 and the recommendations
of the International Special Committee for Antarctic Research, the
Soviet Complex Antarctic Expedition in establishing the new coastal
Antarctic station Lazarev on Queen Maud Land. On 9 February, after
conquering a belt of heavy pack ice, the Ob' cut its way through to
the edge of the shore ice in the area of Princess Astrid Coast. Stormy
weather made an exploration of the coast difficult. On 12 February,
the expedition members finally unloaded the aircraft on the ice and
began a reconnaissance of the coast.
During a 2-day period, the search for a suitable site for the
new scientific station continued. A large section of the coast was
surveyed from the air. No ice-free areas were visible anywhere in
the vicinity. It was decided to organize the new station on a glacier.
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On the ovoo of 11i IF ebruary, 1;hc: Ol:' ca:; L anchor in the ice at a
(U.:, 1,cuice of, (~ 1:.L.l.ur eter from Ulu bra Lion chosen. ['or the o Lation site.
Ucilouilliic; of' the (_.::pooh(. Laonnry f r?ci,_;lit bet,-,win irmned.tatoly.
:,:L;: polar ocien ti s Ls headccl by Yu. A. Kruchtiiin will conduct sci-
c::i t.ii'tc i,ork at the s La,tion La n.rev. The prof stun of scientific work
will Include ol,rc:rvut.Lons in sic;; :oro]?oL''y, t;l.a.ctolot:;y, aerology, actino-
mc Lry, and t_"c oC rr~t~lr;/. The o Lation will. be located in two small, panel-
i; p : i,uLs, hour:i.nu the radio station, r.clonLific laboroLorius, a general
r?o~Cr(:'ation rood.., kitchen. While looking for a station site, a group
of :,cicriLiats ]leaded by Prof ft. C. Ravich set up a field camp on Queen
ilaud Land arid beL;aii ocient:ific research activities. ("On Queen Maud
Lana."; Moscow, Vo(1.u, ,; '.,'.ransporL-, 17 Fob 59)
An bare Lie D:plorers Return Home
The diesel ship Mikhail Kalinin arrived. in Riga on !. March with
ro Ltu?nint; members of the 't'hird Antarctic Expedition. A meeting was
hold at the port, during which Hero of Soviet Union Ye. I. Tolstikov,
chief of the Third Antarctic Expedition, made a speech. ("Explorers
of Antarctica Return Home"; Moscow, Pravda, 5 Mar 59)
,oviet Expedition Members Receive Belgian Awards
The Belgian Embassy in Moscow announce(: that King Baudouin I had
awarded medals to a group of Soviet citizens for the help rendered to
members of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition, who suffered an airplane
accident in Antarctica in December 1958.
The Order of Leopold I was awarded to Ye. I. Tolstikov, chief of
the Third Continental Antarctic Expedition, and to V. M. Perov, com-
mander of a Polar Aviation airplane. The remaining members of the
crew, including V. V. Afonin, copilot; B. S. Brodkin, navigator; V. M.
Sergeyev, flight mechanic; Ye. N. Men'shikov, flight mechanic; and
N. G. Zorin, flight radio operator, were all awarded the order of
Leopold, and V. M. Makushok, the interpreter, was awarded the Order
of the Crown. ("Belgian Awards to Soviet Polar Expedition Members";
,:oscow, Pravda, 3 Mar 59)
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;;c l.cnti3 to Measure ice 'rhic.luican CPYRGHT
During their expeditions into the interior of Antarctica, Soviet
entists were able to determine the thickness of the ice cover and
the elevation of the Antarctic glacier bed. The greatest ice thick-
ness, 4,000 meters, was found at a abort distance to the south of
Pionerukaya. On the other hand, southwest of the station Sovetskaya,
the ice was found to be not more than 1,000 meters thick.
[Note: The above paragraph is an excerpt from a half-page article
on page 4 of Pravda, 8 March 1959) summarizing the activities and achieve-
ments of the Third Soviet Antarctic Expedition, which has just returned
to the USSR. ] ("A Year in Antarctica"; Moscow) Pravda, 8 Mar 59)
16
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