Edited Logbooks of the USS Jeannette, 1879-1881, 16 July 1880

Events & Observations

This entry contains remarks related to the following subject: Sea Ice

Latitude by observation at noon Sun N. 73° 36' 21"
Longitude by chronometer from afternoon observations Sun E. 178° 22' 45"

Using melted ice
Coal consumed during the preceding 24 hours: 110 lbs
Coal remaining on hand at noon: 55 tons 1828 lbs 

The pumping is done as required by hand at the quarter deck bilge pump. 
Sounded in 22 fathoms. Muddy bottom. A slight drift to S.E. x E. being indicated by the lead line. 
Lowered and hauled the dredge.
About 1 1/2 miles S.E. of the ship the ice is broken into large blocks with narrow lanes of water among 
them. The extent of the broken ice cannot be estimated because of the hummocky nature of the 
surroundings limiting the view.
Generally foggy and misty during the forenoon; partially clear at times during the afternoon. Light 
westerly breezes, barometer steady (until toward midnight when it begins to fall) and nearly uniform 
temperature.

Water temperatures and specific gravities
Surface temperature = 33.7° - Specific gravity = 1.002 at 39.5°
2 fathoms = 33.5° - Specific gravity = 1.003 at 39.5°
21 fathoms = 29.5° x - Specific gravity = 1.02485 at 38.5° x Miller-Casella No 25251

Moon 22° S. 
First quarter

Related Materials

Published Journals of George W. DeLong

See full digitized page provided by the Biodiversity Heritage Library. Excerpt:

Our observations to-day show a drift since the 14th of nine miles to S. 43° E. Rather 
discouraging as to direction, but hopeful as showing a loose condition of the ice, which admits of 
our readily moving in compliance with the wind. The open water (i.e. a crack in the ice), one and a 
half miles S.E. of the ship, has widened somewhat, and beyond it the ice seems broken up in large 
blocks, though from their uneven surfaces we cannot tell for how great a distance this broken 
condition extends.

Jeannette Ship's Journal

See digitized manuscript page provided by NOAA PMEL.

Weather Observations

Hour	Wind	Pressure	Att'd	Dry	Wet	Sea	Code
1	wxs	29.69	—	31.8	—	—	ocfm
2	wxs	29.68	—	31.0	—	—	ocf
3	wxs	29.66	—	30.3	—	—	ocf
4	wxs	29.66	—	31.0	—	—	bcf
5	w	29.66	—	32.0	—	—	bc
6	w	29.66	—	32.0	—	—	bc
7	w	29.66	—	31.5	—	—	ocf
8	wnw	29.68	—	32.0	—	—	ocm
9	w	29.68	—	32.0	—	33.7	ocm
10	wxn	29.68	—	32.0	—	—	ocm
11	w	29.68	—	32.0	—	—	ocm
12	w	29.68	—	32.0	—	—	ocm
13	w	29.67	—	32.5	—	—	bc
14	wxs	29.67	—	32.0	—	—	oc
15	wxs	29.67	—	32.0	—	—	oc
16	wxs	29.67	—	32.0	—	—	oc
17	w	29.67	—	31.2	—	—	oc
18	w	29.67	—	31.0	—	—	bc
19	w	29.67	—	31.0	—	—	oc
20	w	29.67	—	31.2	—	—	bc
21	w	29.66	—	31.0	—	—	bc
22	w	29.64	—	31.5	—	—	bc
23	w	29.64	—	31.5	—	—	oc
24	w	29.63	—	31.7	—	—	oc

Beaufort Weather Codes

b: clear blue sky, c: cloudy weather, d: drizzling or light rain, e: wet air without rain, f: foggy, g: gloomy or stormy, h: hail, l: lightning, m: misty or hazy, o: overcast, p: passing showers or rain, q: squally, r: continuous rain, s: snow, t: thunder, u: ugly appearances of threatening weather, v: variable weather, w: wet or heavy dew, z: hazy

USS Jeannette (1879–1881)

Friday, 16 July 1880

Beset and drifting in the pack ice about 160 miles N.W. of Herald Island, Arctic Ocean