1918] METEOBOLOGY. 115 



nomena is very slender Indeed." The correlations for rainfall and barometric 

 pressure are especially low. " The correlation between number of sunspots and 

 terrestrial temperature is the most consistent and substantial of the three. 

 The coefficients average about — 0.14." 



It is thought that there is very little hope that the biologist will be able to 

 correlate plant activities with sunspot numbers " unless light intensity be the 

 means of solar influence." 



The alleged influence of gunfire on rainfall, H. Deslandres {Compt. Rend. 

 Acad. Sci. [Pgris^, 165 (1917), No. 9, pp. SOJf, 305; abs. in Rev. Sci. [Paris], 55 

 (1917), No. 17, p. 541; Nature [London], 100 (1917), No. 2503, pp. 131, 132).— 

 The author is of the opinion that while gunfire may not be a primary cause of 

 rainfall, it may intensify the rainfall when conditions are otherwise favorable 

 by increasing ionization of the atmosphere (E. S. R., 37, p. 418). A statement 

 by Saint-Saens bearing on the matter is quoted. 



Gunfire and rainfall, G. BARsfi (Rev. G6n. Sci., 28 (1917), No. 21, pp. 607- 

 610). — Various contributions to this subject are briefly reviewed and the con- 

 clusion is reached that the evidence regarding relationship is inconclusive. In 

 any case the matter is considered of less practical importance than many other 

 unsettled questions relating to rainfall. 



Studying the science of evaporation (Sci. Amer., 117 (1917), No. 17, pp. SIS, 

 317, figs. 2). — A brief reference is made to the establishment by the U. S. 

 Weather Bureau of a number of small evaporation plants at various stations 

 in the country, where it is proposed to keep detailed records of evaporation in 

 much the same way as in case of temperature and rainfall. 



" For its new work the Weather Bureau has devised a standard type of 

 plant, which can be manufactured at low cost and whicli will insure uniform 

 observations in all parts of the country. The main part of the equipment con- 

 sists of a galvanized iron tank, 4 ft. in diameter and 10 in. deep. In order to 

 provide an unruffled water surface when the measurements are taken, a metal 

 tube, or well, is kept standing in the tank. Of course it is open at beth ends, 

 so that water rises to the same height in the tube as it does in the tank, but 

 naturally it is not affected by the wind. It is an easy matter to reach down 

 in this tube with a measuring rod and get the depth of water. By taking read- 

 ings at regular intervals the amount which has evaporated can be determined. 

 Of course, in case of rain, proper deductions must be made, and for that reason 

 a rain gauge forms part of the equipment. A wind gauge, or anemometer, is 

 mounted at one side of the tank, and maximum and minimum thermometers 

 are also provided in an inclosed shelter." 



On evaporation from a circular water surface, Nesta Thomas and A. Fer- 

 guson (Phil. Mag. and Jour. Sci., 6. ser., 34 (1917), No. 202, pp. 308-321).— Th\s 

 article deals with certain elements of uncertainty in the calculation of the rate 

 of evaporation from circular water surfaces, reviews work already done on 

 the subject, and describes some experiments which were made on the evapora- 

 tion from circular water surfaces under *' everyday conditions." Tlie subject 

 is treated from the purely physical side. 



Soot-fall studies in St. Louis, E. L. Ohle and L. McMastee (Wash. Univ. 

 [St. Louis] Studies, 5 (1917), I, No. 1, pp. 3-8, pis. 5).— The soot fall was col- 

 lected at 12 different places in the city during one year by means of cans 10 in. 

 high and 4 in. in diameter, placed on buildings at least two stories high and 

 which were not sheltered between taller buildings. The amount of soot so 

 collected varied from 506 to 905 tons and averaged 812 tons per square mile 

 per year, the total soot fall for the city being 49,870 tons. 



California earthquakes during 1916, A. II. Palmer (Bui. Seismol. Sac. 

 Amer., 7 (1917), No. 1, pp. 1-17, pi. 1). 



