Temperature of the Atmosphere made by Balloons. 249 



Art. VIII. — Observations wi the Temperature of the At- 

 mosphere made by means of Balloons. By The Right Ho- 

 nourable the Eakl of Minto. 



W^E have already had occasion to point out to our meteoro- 

 logical readers the importance of determining the decrease of 

 temperature in ascending in the atmosphere, and we also re- 

 commended to their notice the method of ascertaining such 

 temperatures by means of balloons, which had been success- 

 fully practised by the Right Honourable the Earl of Minto. '^ 

 The introduction of such a method will, we are persuaded, 

 be of immense benefit to science, and we are happy to have it 

 in our power to publish the results which were obtained by 

 his Lordship. 



Hours, 

 p. M. 

 H. SI. 



4 30 Sent up the balloon under Minto Hill, 



We followed the balloon to the top of the 

 hill, and here gave out 1340 feet of line. 



5 5 We began to lower the balloon, - 59 



5 15 Whilst we were lowering it, - - 58.25 

 5 25 The balloon down (on the top of the 



hill,) ... 52 



During this time there had been no sun, 



[^ and the balloon floated nearly perpendi- 



cularly above us. 



Sent up the balloon again immediately ; 

 it rose rapidly. 

 I ^30 It had attained its full height, 1340 fset, 58 

 At first it floated nearly over us, and the 



sun did not appear. Soon, however, the ^i^^'^tl^'^^^- ■ 

 sun broke out from the clouds, and *'.*.0o 



shortly afterwards the wind rose a lit- ^^^ 



tie, carrying the balloon a good way to , ^^ 



the W. N. W. and of course lowering it 'rP"^ ^^^ 

 very much. 



* See this Journal, No. xi- p. 146, and No. xii. p. S4f6. 

 VOL. VII. NO. II. OCT. 1827. R 



