User:Lovewhatyoudo/ref
維基百科,自由的 encyclopedia
Template:Use Australian English
The Australasian Antarctic Expedition was a 1911–1914 expedition headed by Douglas Mawson that explored the largely uncharted Antarctic coast due south of Australia. Mawson had been inspired to lead his own venture by his experiences on Ernest Shackleton's Nimrod expedition in 1907–1909. During its time in Antarctica, the expedition's sledging parties covered around 4,180公里(2,600英里) of unexplored territory, while its ship, “SY”号Aurora, navigated 2,900公里(1,800英里) of unmapped coastline. Scientific activities included meteorological measurements, magnetic observations, an expansive oceanographic program, and the collection of many biological and geological samples, including the discovery of the first meteorite found in Antarctica. The expedition was the first to establish and maintain wireless contact between Antarctica and Australia. Another planned innovation – the use of an aircraft – was thwarted by an accident before the expedition sailed. The plane's fuselage was adapted to form a motorised sledge or "air-tractor", but it proved to be of very limited use.
The expedition was organised into three bases: one on the sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island and two on the Antarctic mainland. The main base, under Mawson's command, was set up at Cape Denison, about 480公里(300英里) west of Cape Adare, and a western base under Frank Wild was established on the Shackleton Ice Shelf, more than 2,410公里(1,500英里) west of Cape Denison. Activities at both mainland bases were hampered by extreme winds, which often made outside work impossible.
The expedition was marred by the deaths of two members during an attempt to reach Oates Land: Belgrave Edward Ninnis, who fell into a crevasse, and Xavier Mertz, who died on the harrowing return journey. Mawson, their sledging partner, was then forced to make an arduous solo trek back to base; in fact he was in such a deteriorated state when he arrived back at base camp that the men there to greet him did not know whether he was Ninnis, Mertz or Mawson and had to ask him his name. He missed the ship by a few hours, and had to spend an extra year at Cape Denison, along with a relief party of six who volunteered to stay behind in case any of his Far Eastern Party returned. This sojourn was made difficult by the mental breakdown of Sidney Jeffryes, the wireless operator. It turned out to be very fortunate Mawson missed the ship because he was in such bad health that the arduous sail back to Australia could have killed him, whereas by remaining at the base camp on mainland Antarctica he was afforded several months to slowly recover while the relief party looked after him. When Mawson returned from Antarctica, he was given a hero's welcome and received many honours, including a knighthood. The scientific studies provided copious, detailed data which took thirty years to completely publish and the expedition's broad exploration program laid the groundwork for Australia's later territorial claims in Antarctica.