712 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



(2) that these changes are not all alike either in intensity or time of duration. 

 " In spite of these marked differences, there seems nevertheless to be an under- 

 lying connection between them all. It is not therefore without, but rather 

 within, the bounds of possibility that the time will come when such apparent 

 divergences will all be found to be very closely allied to each other, and be the 

 natural resultants of one or more primary world atmospheric fluctuations." 



On certain problems of the hydrosphere and atmosphere, T. C. Chamber- 

 LiN {Carnegie Inst. Washington Year Book, 5 (1906), p. 171). — "This paper 

 proceeds on the assumption that the climatic problems of the earth center about 

 the discovery and elucidation of a system of automatic control of such efficiency 

 as to have kept the temperature of a large portion of the surface of the earth 

 throughout its organic history within the narrow range of 100° C, and at the 

 same time to have kept the constitution of the atmosphere within the like 

 nari-ow range consistent with plant and animal life. 



" The paper recurs to the fourfold organization of a typical atmosphere set 

 forth in [a previous paper], and endeavors to a?)ply the states of equilibrium 

 deduced therefrom to the feeding and depletion of the atmosphere. It is recog- 

 nized that the hydrosphere is a derivative from the atmosphere, and that its rela- 

 tions of equilibrium with the atmosphere are important factors. The relations 

 of elquilibrium between the free atmospheric gases and those absorbed or held in 

 feeble combination in the ocean are considered, together with the conditiims 

 and rate of exchange. The discussion of changes in the basis of equilibrium 

 forms a vital factor. 



" The function of the ocean as a source of atmospheric storage and supply 

 is discussed and a possible reversal of the deep-sea circulation, alternating with 

 circulation of the present order, is considered as a possible explanation of the 

 alternation of warm polar temperatures with jieriods of marked glaciation and 

 aridity. The sources of internal supply of atmospheric and hydrospherie material 

 are reviewed and correlated with sources of depletion, so far as practicable. The 

 function of deformation and base leveling in changing the available amounts of 

 the critical atmospheric constituents is set forth. The relationship of the 

 atmosphere's constituents to thermal absorption, i-etention, and radiation, and 

 the bearing of these upon the climate, are also treated." 



On the relations of equilibrium between the carbon dioxid of the atmos- 

 phere and calcium sulphate and calcium carbonate and bicarbonate in 

 solutions in water in contact with it, J. Stieglitz {Carnegie Itist. Washington 

 Year Book, 5 (1906), pp. Ill, 112). — "This paper embraces the results of a com- 

 putation of the varying equilibria subsisting between different degrees of 

 concentration of carbon dioxid in the atmosphere and varying degrees of 

 concentration of calcium carbonate and bicarbonate, and calcium sulphate in 

 solutions in free contact with the atmosphere. It also considers the relative 

 points of saturation of the calcium salts under varying conditions and the 

 consequent order of their precipitation. 



"The computations have been developed with reference to their application to 

 certain of the problems of equilibria set forth in a preceding paper, and also 

 incidentally to the order of deposition of evaporation deposits under conditions 

 of aridity and other atmospheric states. They have been limited for the present 

 to two cases, the first when the three calcium salts are present alone, and the 

 second when they are present with other sulphates, of the nature and quantity 

 found in the ocean at the present time." 



Weather and crop yield, J. W. Smith {Ohio Nat., 1 {1907), No. 3, pp. 

 J,8-51, fg. 1). — From a comparison of rainfall data and crop yields the author 

 concludes that there is a short period in the growth of crops in which the yield 



