NOTES 107 



The Future of Geophysics in Great Britain (H. S. J.) 



The term Geophysics has, for the want of a better title, been coined to include 

 those subjects which, as the word implies, are related to the physics of the earth. 

 Such subjects include, amongst others, geodesy, tides, terrestrial magnetism, 

 atmospheric electricity, seismology, latitude variation, and meteorology. Geo- 

 physics, therefore, borders on to many distinct branches of science, and it is 

 necessary that a worker in any one branch should be acquainted with what is being 

 done in the other branches, since developments in those branches may have a 

 direct bearing on his own work. This has been very difficult in the past owing to 

 the fact that there has been no common meeting-ground where those interested in 

 these subjects could read and discuss papers. It is true that special branches of 

 geophysics are catered for by different societies, latitude variation by the Royal 

 Astronomical Society for instance, but it is the common meeting-ground that is 

 required for the advancement of our knowledge. Moreover, geodetic work, 

 including surveying, precise levelling, and gravity determinations, is practically 

 confined in this country to a State Department. Without reflecting in any way 

 on the Ordnance Survey Department, which has done excellent work, it cannot be 

 denied that opportunities for investigation and research are limited on this account, 

 and that it is difficult for those outside the Survey Department, who are interested 

 in geodesy, to become acquainted with what is being done in this country. For 

 these reasons progress in geodesy is restricted, and it is well known that there is 

 an almost complete dearth in this country of students of higher geodesy. 



It was therefore a step in the right direction which was taken last autumn by 

 the British Association when it appointed a Committee to arrange meetings for 

 the discussion of geophysical subjects. The members of this Committee are : Sir 

 F. W. Dyson (Chairman), Dr. C. Chree, Col. Sir C. F. Close, Prof. E. B. Elliott, 

 Mr. J. H. Jeans, Prof. A. E. H. Love, Major H. G. Lyons, Prof. A. Schuster, Sir 

 Napier Shaw, Prof. H. H. Turner, Dr. G. W. Walker, and Dr. S. Chapman 

 (Secretary) Meetings were held on the second Wednesday of each month from 

 November until June, with the exception of January, the meetings being held at 

 Burlington House, in the rooms of the Royal Astronomical Society. At the first 

 meeting in November Dr. Chapman gave a report on magnetic surveys and charts 

 by land and sea throughout the world, whilst Dr. Walker gave an account of his 

 recent magnetic survey of the United Kingdom, made under the auspices of the 

 Royal Society and the British Museum. At the December meeting Sir Napier 

 Shaw opened a discussion on the general constitution and condition of the atmo- 

 sphere, whilst Mr. Jeans dealt with the theoretical aspect of the subject. At the 

 February meeting Col. Sir C. F. Close spoke on the influence of barometric 

 pressure on mean sea-level, and Major Henrici opened a discussion on precise 

 levelling. At the March meeting Dr. Chree opened a discussion on aurorae and 

 the electrical state of the upper atmosphere, Prof. Fowler dealt with the spectrum 

 of the aurora, and the Hon. R. T. Strutt spoke on the evidence for the existence 

 of ozone in the upper atmosphere. The April meeting was devoted to seismology: 

 Prof. Turner and Dr. Walker dealt with earthquake waves, and Mr. Oldham 

 spoke about the frequency of earthquakes. At the May meeting Sir F. W. Dyson 

 dealt with the variation of latitude and the movement of the earth's pole. The 

 final meeting in June was devoted to a discussion on tides, which was opened by 

 Prof. Lamb. 



It will be seen that a wide range of subjects were covered, and the discussions 

 were found both interesting and instructive by those who were able to attend 



