physics. 385 



The effects of barometric pressure in producing disturbances of the eleva- 

 tion of the water-surface at Marquette, the gage station on Lake Superior, 

 have been evaluated in 1922 by the method which had already been applied 

 at the five gage stations on Lakes Michigan-Huron and Erie. This was a 

 necessary preliminary to the determination by the proposed method of evapo- 

 ration from Lake Superior and stream-flow into it. 



In 1922 to September 5, four least-squaie solutions for determining the 

 evaporation from the surface of Lake Michigan-Huron and the stream-flow 

 into it had been completed. Each solution involved the use of either one 

 month of observation or six months. On September 5, the improved under- 

 standing of the problem derived from these four solutions was being used in 

 setting up other solutions which are to be on a more perfect basis and will 

 involve more data. One of the solutions being set up on the date named will 

 involve 28 months of observations — the warmer months of 5 years. 



On September 5, 1922, one least-square solution for the determination of 

 the evaporation from the surface of Lake Superior, and the stream-flow into 

 it, had been completed. In this solution observations during a single month 

 were used. 



The outcome of the five solutions referred to in the two paragraphs which 

 precede this has been much new information which is primarily of value in 

 indicating what improvements are feasible in the theory upon which later 

 solutions are to be based. In that way these solutions represent decided 

 progress. However, the new information is of little present interest from 

 any other point of view and hence it does not seem advisable to present it 

 here. 



The year has been one of steady fundamental progress. 



Millikan, R. A., California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California. 

 Fundamental researches on the structure of matter. 



In November 1921 the Trustees of the Carnegie Corporation of New York 

 appropriated funds to the Carnegie Institution of Washington to be applied for 

 a period of five years in the support of fundamental researches in physics and 

 chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. A portion of this appro- 

 priation for the year 1922 was allotted by the Institution to Dr. Millikan for 

 his researches on the structure of matter, concerning which he reports the 

 following activities, although he was absent in Europe from April to Sep- 

 tember : 



The purchase of special research apparatus, the most expensive and the 

 most important of which have been two X-ray machines, one for high-potential 

 work, costing roughly $3,000, and one for high-intensity, low-potential work, 

 costing about the same amount. It is only with powerful apparatus of this 

 type that the problems on radiation and atomic structure can be attacked. A 

 considerable number of small pieces have also been purchased for special 

 problems. 



The definite carrying out of a considerable portion of the program outlined 

 for the study of the so-called penetrating radiations of the upper air. These 

 penetrating radiations must apparently have their origins in nuclear changes 

 going on in the atoms of the sun and stars, and their study is therefore a very 

 fitting part of the program for the joint attack on the problem of the structure 



