The Weather and its Role in Captain Robert F. Scott and his Companions' Deaths

TL;DR

This study uses neural network simulations and historical weather data to analyze Antarctic temperature records, suggesting Captain Scott's reported temperatures were artificially lowered to dramatize weather hardships during his expedition.

Contribution

It introduces a novel neural network approach to retrodict historical Antarctic temperatures and questions the authenticity of Scott's temperature records.

Findings

Actual temperatures were about 13°F higher than reported

Historical data and modern simulations show temperature record alterations

The weather conditions were likely exaggerated in reports

Abstract

A long debate has ensued about the relationship of weather conditions and Antarctic exploration. In no place on Earth is exploration, human existence, and scientific research so weather dependent. By using an artificial neural network simulation, historical (Heroic Age) and modern weather data from manned and automated stations, placed at different locations of the Ross Ice Shelf, and the Ross Island, I have examined minimum near surface air temperatures. All modern meteorological data, as well as historical data of Cherry-Garrard, high correlations between temperatures at different locations, and artificial neural network retrodiction of modern and historical temperature data, point out the oddity of Captain Scott's temperature recordings from February 27 - March 19, 1912. I was able to show that in this period the actual minimum near surface air temperature was on the average about 13{\deg}F(7{\deg}C) above that reported by Captain Scott and his party. On the basis of the mentioned evidence I concluded that the real minimum near surface air temperature data was altered by Lt. Bowers and Captain Scott to inflate and dramatize the weather conditions.