290 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



THE BLUE HILL METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY. 



By frank WALDO. 



nVyTETEOROLOGY becaine established on an independent basis 

 -^*-«- about fifty years ago. With the beginning of a systematic study 

 of the atmospheric conditions there arose a demand for more frequent 

 observations than could be made directly, and, as a result, self-regis- 

 tering meteorological instruments came into use. It was speedily found 

 that the exceedingly sensitive and complicated apparatus necessary for 

 furnishing accurate records of the atmospheric conditions required the 

 services of thoroughly trained and skilful persons in its manipulation. 

 N'ot only this, but proper exposure of the instruments and careful 

 reduction of their records were necessary. In other words, the generally 

 recognized requirements of a good astronomical observatory must be 

 fulfilled in carrying on the work of a meteorological observatory. 



It had long been supposed (and unfortunately is still by many) that 

 any one is competent to make meteorological observations who is able 

 to read a barometer scale or hold a measuring stick in a rainfall basin. 

 The importance of having the instruments automatically record their 

 indications became very generally recognized, if we may judge by the 

 number of self-registering instruments constructed and set in opera- 

 tion, although the considerable cost prevented their general introduc- 

 tion. Then it was that the need for this work of well-trained observers 

 began to be felt. Where meteorology was associated with one of the 

 older physical sciences, such as astronomy, the necessary care was given 

 to the meteorograph; but in most cases, after a brief and generally 

 unsatisfactory trial, the self-recording instruments were kept going in 

 only a perfunctory manner or alloM^ed to fall entirely into disuse. 

 While the necessity for meteorological observations continued, and con- 

 tinuous records became more and more imperatively demanded, yet it 

 was not until the true conditions were fully realized and meteorological 

 observatories comparable with those devoted to astronomical research 

 were built, equipped and manned, that anything like satisfactory atmos- 

 pheric observations were obtained. Nor was it longer deemed sufficient 

 only to keep up the observation of the meteorological elements; the 

 fact was emphasized that the results must be properly worked up and 

 put into such a form as would best serve the purposes for which they 

 were desired. 



Observatories of various degrees of excellence and fitness were estab- 

 lished at a number of places, but it was reserved for Professor Heinrich 



