5 refs; figs

An earth current station was established on the Hut Point Peninsula of Ross Island, in 1965. Its purpose is to supplement the present magnetic programme at Scott Base in the recording of the fine structure of magnetic events and to provide information on telluric currents. These currents are induced in the earth by varying currents in the ionosphere and in this sense follow the magnetic variations. Since they are modified by the electrical properties of the earth, notably the conductivity, they can be used, as in the magneto-telluric method, to investigate the properties of the crust and mantle of the earth. Little seems to have been done in the Antarctic in this field, and the only other stations I know of are at the Russian stations, Mirny and Oasis. Climate, terrain, and isolation make the establishment and maintenance of a station difficult and previous experience in other latitudes has not been very useful. However, the various difficulties have now been reasonably contained, if not wholly overcome, and an acceptable programme has been maintained since 1966. (auth)