XXX.—Shackleton Antarctic Expedition, 1914–1917: Depths and Deposits of the Weddell Sea

Abstract

Previous to the voyage of the Endurance in 1914–1915, the depth and extent of the Weddell Sea were either based on or surmised from the deep-sea soundings made on the Scotia by Dr Bruce in 1903 and 1904; on Dr Otto Nordenskjöld's ship Antarctic in 1901–1902; and on the German Expedition ship Deutschland under the leadership of Lieut. Filchner in 1912–1913. The first set are confined to the eastern and north-eastern portion, and may be said to run diagonally across the mouth of the sea; the second set were made in the extreme north-western area; whilst those of the Deutschland are disposed right down the centre of the sea, and consist mainly of a south-to-north series approximately along the meridian of 43° W.