Byrd's Arctic flight in the context of model atmospheres

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Newsom, G.H.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2012
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Arctic; Byrd; Polar Record; Spitsbergen
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247412000058; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247412000058

ABSTRACT The availability of modern computer models of plausible atmospheric pressure versus altitude for a grid of points over the earth's surface permits a reexamination of Richard Byrd's dead reckoning navigation on his flight in May 1926 from Spitsbergen northwards and his return. Although details of how Byrd converted atmospheric pressure to altitude are ambiguous, the recent atmospheric models probably indicate a small systematic bias that would cause Byrd to overestimate his dead reckoning distance traveled. The same models provide a range of computed winds versus time, altitude, and location, leading to the conclusion that, if Byrd's reported winds during his flight are correct, it was the result of a very unusual and fortuitous circumstance.