| Description | Observations of atmospheric electricity made during Captain Scott's National Antarctic Expedition (also known as the Discovery Expedition). The first two observations were taken on the SS Discovery (28 December 1901), and off Coulman Island (16 January 1902). The next observation (10 February 1902) was taken on shore at McMurdo Bay and as no subsequent locations are recorded all the following observations appear likely to have been taken at the same location during the period of overwintering at a station on McMurdo sound, the location became known as Winter Quarters Bay.
Observations made by Louis Bernacchi, expedition physicist [using portable electrometers of the type designed by William Thomson PRS (First Baronet Kelvin), see MA/373].
The frequency of observation varies with records usually made daily, or twice daily at 11am and 5pm, however there are some gaps in the daily record and some dates where Bernacchi records being unable to take an observation and other dates for which hourly observations are taken.
Bernacchi usually records the following information with each observation though some entries are more complete than others, becoming increasingly brief later in the volume:
Date and time
Earth electricity reading
Air electricity reading
Wind direction and force
Temperature, sometimes providing dry and wet bulb thermometer readings
General weather conditions
Location with height above sea and/or ground level and latitude and longitude are given with entires at the beginning of the volume
A note dated 15 December 1901 records the poor condition of the two electrometers sent to Bernacchi by Mr Ferrar and the repairs Bernacchi made.
A label on the front of the volume reads 'Electrometer observations Mar 18 to Jan 1902, entered up'. This may refer to the fact that a fair copy of observations in this volume was written up though the dates actually covered in this volume and the fair copy extend to Jan 1903 [see fair copy at MA/373].
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| Administrative history | The National Discovery Antarctic Expedition (1901-1904) was managed by a joint committee of the Royal Society and the Royal Geographical Society with the remit to carry out scientific research and geographic exploration. Louis Bernachi (1876-1942) was the expedition physicist, he was the only scientist on the expedition with previous Antarctic experience having been on the British National Antarctic Expedition (Southern Cross Expedition, 1898-1900) as magnetic observer and meteorologist. |