William ScoresbyBorn 5 Oct 1789; died 21 Mar 1857 at age 67.English explorer, scientist and clergyman, who made early scientific studies of the Arctic. On Sir Joseph Banks' advice, he recorded the natural phenomena he saw during his Arctic voyages since existing information was sparse. He proved that the temperature of the polar ocean has a warmer temperature at considerable depths than it has on the surface. His drawings and paintings showed whaling incidents, animals and plants never seen by Europeans. He drew the hexagonal shapes of snowflakes from microscope observation. He realized that the colours of the Arctic Sea were due to plankton. He investigated terrestrial magnetism and improved Admiralty compasses. Eventually all navy ships were supplied with Scoresby's compasses.« |
