316 abstracts: meteorology 



/. The wind velocity seems to decrease above the fourth level; its 

 mean direction is west-northwest. In the lower levels, however, the 

 wind distribution, as already known, is largely controlled by the dis- 

 tribution of surface pressure. 



In explanation of the observed phenomena it is suggested that the 

 peculiarities of temperature distribution, including the "latitude effect" 

 and the upper inversion of temperature, may be due to the influence of 

 convection on the distribution of the constituent gases, vapors and 

 dust of the atmosphere. W. R. B. 



METEOROLOGY. — Free air data at Mount Weather for July, August, 

 and September, 1911. Wm. R. Blair. Bulletin of the Mount 

 Weather Observatory, 4: 342-395. 1911. 



During this period 112 kite and captive balloon records were obtained 

 of pressure, temperature, relative humidity, wind direction and wind 

 velocity, the details of which are given in tables and charts. Besides 

 this the surface temperatures of the mountain kite station and of two 

 adjacent valley stations are given in diagram. 



Two series of 8 ascensions each were made, August 16-17, and Sept- 

 tember 12-13, for studying the diurnal changes that take place in the 

 various elements observed. Clear weather was chosen for both series 

 and observations were obtained at all altitudes up to 3 kilometers above 

 sea level. The results show that on these dates the 1.5 kilometer level 

 was one of transition at which the hourly departures of the tempera- 

 ture from the mean for the day were least; that below this elevation the 

 diurnal maximum temperature occurred at about 3 to 5 p.m., and the 

 minimum at 1 to 2 p.m. 



In the discussion it is pointed out that the diurnal convection currents 

 probably rose to the 1.5 kilometer level, or a little higher, on the days 

 in which the observations were made, and it is therefore suggested that 

 the contributions to and the distribution of the constituents of the lower 

 atmosphere by these currents probably were responsible for the peculiar 

 temperature distribution observed. W. R. B. 



METEOROLOGY.— The upper atmosphere. W. J. Humphreys. Bul- 

 letin of the Mount Weather Observatory, 4: 402-408. 1912. 



This paper is a critical examination of our present knowledge of and 

 inferences concerning the atmosphere above the level of the highest 

 clouds. The conclusions reached are as follows: 



Sources of information: (1) Records of sounding balloons, (2) Obser- 



