Maths. and Physics

Physicist C. P. Bull spoke recently to the Maths Physics Society on his experiences as a member of the British North Greenland expedition in 1952-54.

The expedition went by boat to the pack ice. They then were flown by R.A.F. Sunder lands to Lake Britannia Here the main observation post was set up, and with this as base, a field party travelled light across Greenland, measuring the thickness of the ice and collecting various other data. Hardly any measurements were more complicated than those required for Stage I Physics. For example, snow density was estimated by weighing a tobacco tin full of snow on a simple balance. When staying at the Danish station of North Ice, Dr. Bull helped to dig a fifty foot hole to measure annual snow accumulation. Each year's ice layer leaves a mark like an annual tree ring.

The expedition benefited in many ways from their friendly American neighbours. On the ice cap near Thule the party passed through an American field station. It was supposed by helicopter and snow cat, and was blessed with every luxury. They even saw a showing of "Executive Suite" before its London premiere. When an R.A.F. supplies aircraft came too low and crashed, a U.S. amphibian Albatross came to their rescue and picked up the injured crew.

Even in the rigours of the Arctic the party managed to have a little social life. They made a successful home brew with an old petrol can as a still. Each week the men dressed up in a gaudy fashion, and entertained themselves with pantomimes, original verse and the like. But the greatest occasion was when an order was mistaken, and the Americans dropped Xmas supplies for thirty instead of for three: their luxury food lasted out till Easter as a consequence.

The talk was neatly woven around a showing of colour slides that Dr. Burns took at the time. These made it much easier for the audience to appreciate the work and fun of the expedition.