METEOROLOGY — WATER. 11 



Weather Rev., 35 (1907), Xo. .',, pp. 161-168, fius. 28).— The more important con- 

 clnsions reached hy the author, after a study of this subject, are as follows : 



"(1) That every meteorological element at any given place may be analyzed 

 into a definite number of oscillations or waves differing in length, each of which 

 appears to have a physical existence distinct from that of the others. 



"(2) "When analyzed in the same way for any given time, the data at widely 

 separated stations near the same latitude show analogous waves, except that the 

 maxima and minima differ somewhat in the time of occurrence at the different 

 stations. 



"(.'?) The waves, at least in temperate latitudes, drift generally from west to 

 east — that is, the maxima and minima occur at eastern stations later than at 

 western stations. 



"(4) The velocity of drift is inversely proportional to the wave length. Fluc- 

 tuations, or oscillations, completed in a short period of time, drift rapidly, while 

 longer fluctuations drift more and more slowly in proportion as the time of 

 oscillation is longer. 



"(.5) The speed of travel appears to be fairly constant from year to year 

 for waves of the same length of oscillation measured in time. 



" The discovery of these facts not merely opens the way to a great improve- 

 ment in the forecasting of weather from day to day. but also, I believe, furnishes 

 a scientific basis for long-range forecasting. 1 he application of this knowledge 

 to practical work is. however, not easy, because of the difficulty of analyzing and 

 separating the different classes of waves. As a result of working at the matter 

 for a number cf years and carefully developing and testing methods of analysis 

 and charting, I believe it is possible to improve the present forecasts and to 

 make forecasts longer in advance, which would be of enormous advantage to 

 agriculture and commerce." 



Rainfall and run-off of the Catskill Mountain region, T. Merriman {Mo. 

 Weather Rer., 33 {1907). Xo. 3. pp. 109-1 18, figs. 6). — This article summarizes 

 the available rainfall data of the region covered by the 4 watersheds proposed 

 to be used as an additional supply for the city of New York, and gives estimates 

 of the probable mean annual rainfall of the watersheds as follows : " Esopus, 

 44 in. ; Schoharie, 41 in. ; Rondout, 48 in. ; Catskill, 88 in." 



Evaporation, W. H. Day {Ann. Rpt. Ontario Agr. Col. and E.rpt. Farm, 32 

 {1906), pp. 31, 32). — This is a continuation of the previous year's work on tran- 

 spiration (E. S. R., 17, p. 841), and includes a further study of an instrument 

 devised by the author for measuring evaiwration. The data reported include 

 observations in the thermometer shelter and at the surface of a reservoir. 

 During the G months from June to November, the evaporation from the reser- 

 voir was 37.09 in., which is slightly over 10 in. in excess of the mean annual 

 rainfall for the same place. 



Damage by lightning in 1906, W. H. Day {.Ann. Rpt. Ontario Agr. Col. and 

 K.ipt. Fanii. 32 (1906), pp. 3S-'in). — The usual summary of statistics on this 

 subject is given. 



Where the wind does the work, ('. Coisb {Xat. Geogr. Mag., 17 (1906), No. 

 G, pp. 310-317, figs. 10). — The work of the wind on the low-lying islands and sand 

 reefs of the coast of North Carolina is described, and means of checking the 

 shifting of the sands are discussed. 



Analyses of irrigation waters, A. L. Knisely {Oregon Sta. Rpt. 1905, p. 

 67). — .Vnalyses of ~> samples of water used in irrigation experiments reported 

 in Bulletin 8<; of the station (E. S. R., 17. p. 90) are given. 



Water for various crops, W. H. Day {Ann. Rpt. Ontario Agr. Col. and Expt. 

 Farm, 32 {1906), p. 33). — The results of a continuation of measurements of the 

 amount of water re<iuired by crops of wheat, barley, oats, and peas are reported. 



