Abstract
IT is with widespread regret that the news has been received of the destruction of the non-magnetic research vessel Carnegie, and the lamentable death of Capt. J. P. Ault, captain of the vessel, physicist, mathematician, and leader of the expedition, whose magnetic surveys extending over all the oceans since 1909 are known throughout the maritime world. The vessel, a brigantine belonging to the Carnegie Institution of Washington, was refitted last year and equipped for oceanographic and meteorological work as well as for the magnetic survey, and was fitted with an auxiliary bronze petrol motor. She had since completed half of the projected cruise of 110,000 miles when, on Nov. 30, refilling petrol in Apia Harbour, Samoa, an explosion occurred resulting in her total destruction. No other member of the scientific staff of eight received serious injury, from the reports yet seen. The Carnegie Institution has furnished classic material relating to the magnetic variation, dip and ocean meteorology, from the previous expeditions of this vessel and her predecessor under the leadership of Capt. Ault. During this cruise, data have also been obtained of the electric condition of the atmosphere at different levels, of wind velocities by means of pilot balloons, of atmospheric refraction, the intensity of solar radiation, temperature and humidity lapse rates above the sea. In addition, much oceanographic data have been collected, numerous stations having been worked from top to bottom for temperature and salinity of the water, which will add to our present knowledge of the hydrodynamics of ocean currents in the North Atlantic and Pacific. The nutrient salts, phosphates, and nitrates, necessary for and usually limiting plant life in the sea, have been studied, and the amount of minute plants and animals—plankton—estimated by means of hauls with finemeshed nets. The work was being closely followed by the Admiralties, meteorologists, and marine biologists of many nations.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
News and Views. Nature 124, 883–888 (1929). https://doi.org/10.1038/124883a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/124883a0