Observations from seven o’clock
| P.M. | |
| 7:12 | Tromsö (+ polar station Jan Mayen, Björnöya) |
| 7:20 | Königswusterhausen (Germany) |
| 7:35 | Lyngby (Denmark) |
| 7:40 | Karlsborg (Sweden) |
| 7:50 | Oslo (Norway) |
| 8:00 | London (England and Faroe Islands) |
| 8:15 | Grudziadz (Poland) |
| 8:20 | Paris (France, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland) |
| 8:30 | Sandhamn (Finland) |
| 8:40 | London (ships’ observations) |
| 8:50 | Tromsö (collected messages) |
| 9:15 | Haapsalu (Estland) |
| 10:00 | Paris (collected messages) |
As will be observed Mr. Devold had a lengthy time-table each day—Sunday as well as week day. The despatches which arrived during the night and the early morning were received by the ship’s own operators, who besides had, as part of their duty, to attend to the expedition’s very large press correspondence when not attending to the meteorological telegrams.
Nearly all the north, west and middle European states are represented in the list. Observations from those countries, the despatch stations of which one could not hear direct (for instance certain south and east European), were received indirectly through the “collected messages” from London and Paris, which give extracts of all the observations from the whole of Europe.
Special mention should be given to the despatches which were sent out specially for the expedition. First come the extra observations which the U. S. A. started broadcasting from Alaska, Canada, and the United States. These formed a very important addition to the general meteorological observations which America usually sent out for European use. It was especially important for us to get the complete observations from Alaska—the nearest inhabited land—on the other side of the Pole. The whole of this extensive observation material was supplied gratis by the United States of America Weather Bureau, and telegraphed free of charge by the U. S. A. Naval Station, Annapolis. It gives me great pleasure to mention the tremendous assistance which the United States gave us in this connection, and I herewith offer them the expedition’s grateful thanks.
Despatches from Annapolis were received by the Stavanger station, which repeated them to the “Fram.” This was also done free of charge. The Norwegian telegraph authorities also showed their goodwill to the expedition by instructing Vardeo Radio Station to receive despatches from North Russian and North Siberian stations and repeat same to the “Fram,” which hardly could have got them direct. I must also mention the help the radio station in Green Harbour gave us by assisting in receiving messages and forecasts during the critical days just before the start.
The Geophysical Institute at Tromsö, which is the central station for the weather-forecastings for North Norway, sent from its radio station, three times daily, the Norwegian observation material.
The institute in Tromsö also deserves thanks for all the assistance it has given to the expedition by sending out weather forecasts from the moment the trip was planned, and whilst we made our preparations in the winter 1924–5. It was a great help to be able to sometimes consult the nearest meteorological neighbors in the south, who had many years’ experience in the Arctic Sea’s meteorological readings. I will specially mention a telegram we received from Director Krogness a few days before the start which informed us that his analysis suggested that a period of stable weather conditions was now approaching. This was of great assistance when the starting day had to be fixed.
When the whole apparatus was in working order we could receive meteorological despatches from nearly all the stations. The network of stations is closest in Europe, so close that we often saved work by making a choice of stations. Asia and America have not such a close net, but even here it is possible to draw a weather chart which is largely correct.
