2 66 REPORTS ON INVESTIGATIONS AND PROJECTS. 



The latter have difficulties arising from essential singularities of the functions, 

 and from the necessity of considering infinite periods and asymptotic orbits. 

 Four other investigations are far advanced and will probably be finished 

 during the coming year. 



METEOROLOGY. 



Bjerknes, V., University of Christiania, Christiania, Norway. Grant No. 



756, allotted December 15, 191 1. Preparation of a scientific work on 



the application of the methods of hydrodynamics and thermodynamics 



to practical meteorology and hydrography. (For previous reports see 



Year Books Nos. 5-10.) $1,800 



Of the work "Dynamic Meteorology and Hydrography," volume n, 



"Kinematics," worked out in collaboration with Th. Hesselberg and O. 



Devik, has appeared. Preparatory work for volume in, "Dynamics," has 



been continued, with attention directed mainly to the investigation of the 



influence of friction on atmospheric motions. 



At the meeting held at Vienna this year by the "Commission Interna- 

 tionale pour l'Aerostation Scientifique" two propositions presented by Pro- 

 fessor Bjerknes were accepted: (1) that in the publications of the Commis- 

 sion gravity potential (measured in "dynamic meters") should be introduced 

 instead of height (measured in meters) as one of the fundamental variables 

 for describing meteorological phenomena; (2) that in the same publications 

 pressure should be used as independent variable instead of height in tabu- 

 lating the result of meteorological ascents. The introduction of these two 

 reforms in the publications of the Commission will facilitate much the prac- 

 tical application of the methods worked out in the "Dynamic Meteorology 

 and Hydrography." 



A third proposition, that in the same publications pressure should be 

 expressed in units belonging to the c.g.s. system (in "millibars" instead of in 

 millimeters or inches of mercury) was also accepted by the Commission, but 

 with the reservation that the reform should not be carried through before 

 having been accepted also by the Permanent Meteorological Committee. 



During the year Mr. O. Devik left his position as scientific assistant, and 

 has been succeeded by Mr. H. U. Sverdrup. 



NUTRITION. 



Osborne, T. B., and L. B. Mendel. Grant No. 790, allotted January 18, 



1912. Continuation and extension of zvork on vegetable proteids. (For 



previous reports see Year Books Nos. 3-10.) $15,000 



In the report for the previous year experiments conducted in cooperation 



with Prof. Lafayette B. Mendel were described and the statement made 



that by methods then employed experimental feeding may be continued long 



enough to obtain answers to many questions concerning the chemistry of 



