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Report of the National Committee for the International Geophysical Year.
Membership and Meetings. The National Committee is now composed of the following: Dr. M. A. F. Barnett, Director, Meteorological Services (Chairman); Mr. G. W. Markham, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (Secretary); Mr. R. G. Dick, Surveyor-General, Department of Lands and Survey; Dr. E. I. Robertson, Director, Geophysics Division, D.S.I.R.; Mr. N. V. Ryder, Physics Department, Victoria University College; Mr. I. L. Thomsen, Director, Carter Observatory; Mr. W. H. Ward, Director, Dominion Physical Laboratory, D.S.I.R.
The members and Secretary of the National Committee are also members and Secretary of the Interdepartmental Committee, which comprises in addition: Dr. R. G. Simmers, Assistant Director, Meteorological Services; Lieut.-Commander G. S. Ritchie, Commanding Officer, H.M N.Z.S. “Lachlan,” Navy Office, Wellington; Lieut.-Commander E. P. Reade, Director of Plans, Navy Office, Wellington; Dr. T. Hatherton, Geophysics Division, D.S.I.R.
The Committee has met several times both as the National Committee and as the Inter-departmental Committee, to plan and implement the programme approved by Cabinet in August, 1955. The dual nature of the Committee has proved most effective in reaching decisions to carry the programme forward and in negotiations with Government agencies and the C. S.A.G.I.
Special Committee for the International Geophysical Year (C S.A.G.I) Close contact has been maintained with the C.S.A.G.I. and its agencies in carrying forward the New Zealand programme and informing the international scientific bodies concerned of New Zealand plans. The Antarctic Group of the C. S. A.G I. is holding a meeting in Paris towards the end of June, whilst C. S. A. G. I. is meeting in July-August in London. It is expected that New Zealand will be represented at both meetings.
New Zealand I.G.Y. Programme. Having secured Cabinet approval to the main outline of the programme and the additional finance required to implement it, planning and preparation have proceeded apace. Details of the programme have been finalised, and workers in D.S.I.R., Meteorological Services, University Colleges and Carter Observatory are engaged in construction and acquisition of equipment.
In broad outline the programme consists of intensification of existing scientific work such as meteorology, geomagnetism, ionospherics, and the establishment of additional stations at key places to study specific phenomena of importance to the aims and objects of the International Geophysical Year. Special stations will be established at the Scott Base, McMurdo Sound (in company with the Trans-Antarctic Expedition), Invercargill, and existing stations of D. S.I.R and Meteorological Services will be used to intensify and add to their existing programmes. The following table summarises the programme:
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| Subject. | Scott Base, McMurdo Sound. | N.Z./Pacific Islands. |
|---|---|---|
| Geomagnetism | Magnetic station, standard magnetic recording; measurement of transient phenomena (Magnetic Survey, D.S.I.R.). | Magnetic stations Amberley, Apia; intensification existing magnetic programme. |
| Aurora | Auroral station, auroral photographic and visual observations (Carter Observatory). | 1. Auroral station Carter Observatory, photographic observations, intensification existing programme. |
| 2. Auroral visual observations N.Z. and Campbell Island stations. | ||
| 3. Auroral station, Invercargill, radar observations and aurorae. | ||
| Solar activity | Solar observations Carter Observatory; intensification of existing programme. | |
| Ionosphere | Ionospheric station, panoramic ionosonde recording, h't recording. (Geophysical Observatory, D. S. I.R.) | 1. Ionospheric station, Christchurch, Campbell Island, Rarotonga; intensification existing programme. |
| 2. Ionospheric drift station D.P L. Wellington; intensification existing programme. | ||
| 3. Canterbury University College radio and radar field station, Christchurch; survey of meteor showers, ionospheric winds, D region echoes. | ||
| Radio propagation | Propagation through auroral zone, pulse transmitter at Scott Base, receivers at Invercargill, Port Lockroy (Graham Land), Hobart, Adelie Land (French Antarctica), Mawson (Australian Antarctica), Camp-bell Island. (Dominion Physical Laboratory, D.S.I.R.) | 1. Angles of arrival, Antarctic transmissions, Invercargill; extension of Seagrove Radio Research Station, Auckland University College. |
| 2. Radio whistlers, D.P.L.; intensification existing programme. | ||
| Cosmic Rays | 1. Neutron recording Victoria University College, Wellington, and Invercargill. | |
| 2. MU2 recording, Invercargill. | ||
| 3. Cosmic ray recording, Christ-church. | ||
| Latitude and Longitude | 1. Latitude and longitude observations, Seismological Observatory, Wellington, new activity. | |
| 2. Lunar observations, Carter Observatory; new activity. | ||
| Oceanography | 1. Sea level recording, longwave recording and circulation studies at stations in New Zealand, Pacific Islands, Scott Base, and on passage between New Zealand and the Antarctic; intensification existing programme. (N.Z. Oceanographic Institute.) | |
| Seismology | Seismograph station equipped 3 Benioff seismographs (Seis. Obs.) | |
| Gravimetry | Gravity profile from Scott Base to Antarctic Plateau with Trans-Antarctic Expedition and in collaboration U. S.A. | |
| Meteorology | Radiation recording; adjacent USA station doing radar wind and radiosonde observations. | Radar wind, radiosonde radiation. Cloud observations at existing stations throughout New Zealand and Pacific; intensification existing programme. (N.Z. Meteorological Services.) |
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Finance. The approved finance of £68,600 provided for additional costs which D.S.I R. and Meteorological Services could not meet from their normal votes and for grants to Victoria University College, Auckland University College and Carter Observatory to assist them in the programme they were undertaking. All the participating institutions will in addition expend moneys from their normal funds.
Personnel. Dr. Trevor Hatherton has been appointed Chief Scientist of the I.G.Y. Antarctic Expedition, and Mr. R. S. Unwin, Dominion Physical Laboratory, has been given the task of establishing the station at Invercargill and co-ordinating the programme to be undertaken there. Applications have been called for the Antarctic parties of five men for 1957 and eight men for 1958. Some 40 applications were received from officers in Government Departments and students of University Colleges. The Personnel Sub-committee of the Interdepartmental Committee has interviewed 26 of these applicants, and initial appointments are now being finalised. Some of the staff for the Invercargill station will be drawn from D.S I.R., whilst Auckland University College and Carter Observatory are providing some members of the party.
Comprehensive Report. The National Committee had hoped to present to the Council a comprehensive and detailed report. This report is now in preparation, and copies will be issued to Council members as soon as it is completed. The report will give a complete account of the New Zealand programme as well as introductory sections to convey to the lay reader the significance of the I.G.Y. and the science which are being studied.
The report will serve three purposes: as a report to the Council of the Royal Society, as the New Zealand report to the C.S.A.G.I. meeting in July/August, and as an information brochure to the lay reader. E. I. Robertson, Deputy Chairman G. W. Markham, Secretary.
On the motion of Dr. Salmon, seconded by Professor Briggs, the report on the I.G.Y. Committee prepared by Mr. E. I. Robertson, Deputy Chairman, and Mr. G. W. Markham, Secretary, was adopted.
Mr. Collins stated that the subject of “Glaciology” did not appear to be included in the I.G.Y. programme of work, and after some discussion it was resolved that Mr. Collins' comment be referred to the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the I.G.Y. Committee.
The President thought the Society should express its appreciation of Government action in providing the necessary financial support for the I. G.Y. and Transantarctic Expedition schemes.
On the motion of Professor Richardson, seconded by Dr. Archey, it was resolved that the action suggested by the President be adopted.