Lancaster Brown’s symbols

Twelve Came Back
Peter Lancaster Brown
Pub. 1957, Robert Hale Ltd. London

Lancaster Brown was an acute observer of motion and change in the Antarctic landscape over a year (1952-53).

He recognized retreat of glaciers as he explored Heard Island, and his work there included aurorial observations. Observing the Southern Lights, he recorded their details in a language of symbols. (read below)

On auroras:

The sky was full of dancing lights, almost every colour of the rainbow. Nebulous, purple drapes hung across the stars, continually shifting their position. After half an hour the activity faded to a dull, quiescent glow that lingered about the south-western horizon.

p. 25

And again, worded slightly differently:

First of all a dull glow on the south-eastern horizon – a mere suspicion – until it gradually spread across the sky like the pale dawn light. Then quite suddenly, at the zenith, a mass of tinted lights exploded into view like a gigantic fireworks display. Reds, purples, greens – almost every colour of the rainbow. Great streamers of light – curtains of fire – shimmered in the frosty heavens. As quickly as possible, in the faint light of a torch, I recorded their details in a language of symbols; the sky was literally ablaze with coloured lights. Yet within five minutes all was quiet again save for a dull glow that persisted in the southern horizon.

p. 39

Dashing to pick up my notebook and warm observing anorak, I sprinted towards the observatory. Even as I uncovered the instrument sights, the display was at its height. Magnificent purple draperies hung across the southern sky, continually changing shape and shimmering like a noonday mirage. One great blue ray shot across the heavens – then another.

I had little opportunity to enjoy the display as such. The constantly changing forms kept me busy at the instrument, recording their characteristics in the notebook. How dull my notes would appear to a layman – a jumble of hieroglyphics – pure facts for scientific analysis.

Then quite abruptly the display ended; the dancing southern lights shrinking to a diffuse glow on the eastern horizon.

Maintaining a watch, I waited until midnight before activity flared up again. Great streamers of coloured lights flashed across the sky with renewed vigour, concentrating their attention at the zenith. A dazzling corona appeared (this is the most intense form of aural activity) and it produced a light equal to that of of a full moon, enabling me to write my notes without the torch.

The display finally ended shortly before 4 a.m., and I retired to my bunk quite worn out – but extremely satisfied with my night’s work.

p. 97

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On the Baudissen Glacier:

Like many other glaciers in the world, the Baudissen was shrinking fast, the piles of volcanic boulders showing conclusive evidence to this fact. Heard Island had undergone considerable topographical changes since the visits of the earlier sealers.

We were clambering among the ice before we realized it, for it was intermingled with black, rocky debris.

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It is likely that Lancaster-Brown’s auroral observations were part of the International Geophysical Year (1957-58) programme.

As the time for this work was approaching, Australian Antarctic researchers Phillip Law and John Bechervaise wrote:

Studies of the Earth’s magnetism are becoming increasingly significant because of their importance in ionospheric, aural and cosmic ray research.

Two types of measurements are required: absolute measurements of the strength and direction of the Earth’s magnetic field, and continuous records of the fluctuations which occur in the absolute values.

Violent fluctuations, called magnetic storms, occur during periods of solar activity.

The date of the International Geophysical Year (1957-58) has been chosen to coincide with a period of maximum sun-spot activity and should be interesting data concerning correlations between magnetic, ionospheric, aural and cosmic ray effects and solar disturbances. (Law & Bechervaise, 1957; 113)