24 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



METEOROLOGY— WATER. 



Treatise on meteorology, J. Vincent [Traits de M4t6orologie. Brussels, 

 1914, pp. VIII-\-418, figs. 176). — This is a general treatise on the subject con- 

 taining chapters on general information about the air, temperature of the 

 air. aqueous vapor in the air and its condensation, the barometer, the thermal 

 state of the atmosphere, polar auroras, water spouts, the weather, electrical 

 phenomena, the climate of different zones of the earth, and the climate of 

 Belgium. 



Bulletin of the Mount Weather Observatory {U. S. Dept. Agr., Bui. Mount 

 Weather Ohserv., 6 (.19U), pt. 5, pp. 195-265+IV, pis. 3, figs. iS).— This, the 

 final number of this series of bulletins, contains the following articles: The 

 Design and Theory of a Mechanism for Illustrating Certain Systems of Lines 

 of Force and Stream Lines (illus.), by W. H. Roever; The Relation Between 

 Solar Radiation Intensities and the Temperature of the Air in the Northern 

 Hemisphere in 1912-13 (illus.), by H. H. Kimball (see below) ; The Diurnal 

 System of Convection : A Summary of the Free Air Data Obtained at Mount 

 Weather for the Fiscal Year July 1, 1912, to June 30. 1913 (illus.), by W. R. 

 Blair ; and Free Air Data at Mount Weather from July 3, 1913, to May 7, 1914, 

 on " International Days," by W. R. Blair. A general index to Volumes 1-6 is 

 appended. 



The relation between solar radiation intensities and the temperature of 

 the air in the Northern Hemisphere in 1912—13, H. H. Kimball (U. S. Dept. 

 Agr., BuJ. Mount Weather Ohserv., 6 {1914), pt. 5, pp. 205-220, fig. i).— Atten- 

 tion is called in this paper especially to the fact that " following the eruption 

 of Katmai Volcano, in Alaska, in June, 1912, a cloud of high haze or dust was 

 gradually distributed throughout the atmosphere of the Northern Hemisphere 

 and caused a marked diminution in the intensity of direct solar radiation. This 

 diminution reached its maximum at Mount Weather, Va., in August, 1912. and 

 was noticeable until nearly the end of 1913. There was at the same time an 

 increase in the quantity of heat received diffusely from the sky, but the net 

 result was a decrease in the amount of heat energy received at the surface of 

 the earth." 



The thunderstorm and its phenomena, W. J. Humphreys {Mo. Weather 

 Rev., 42 {1914), No. 6, pp. 348-380, figs. 22, pi. 1; Jour. Franklin. Inst., 178 

 {1914), No. 6, pp. 751-776, figs. 6). — Among the topics discussed in these articles 

 are the origin of thunderstorm electricity ; periodic recurrence and distribution 

 of thunderstorms ; thunderstorm pressures, temperatures, humidity, and ve- 

 locity; hail; lightning and its effects; and thunder. 



It is pointed out among other things that the sudden downpour of rain 

 which frequently follows heavy claps of thunder is not due to the latter but to 

 changes in electrification. It is shown that one of the important chemical 

 efi'ects of electrical discharges accompanying thunderstorms is the abundant 

 formation of oxids of nitrogen and ammonia. It is stated that " there is no 

 obvious and close relation between the thunderstorm and normal atmospheric 

 electricity ; that, according to our best evidence, they are distinct and inde- 

 pendent phenomena." 



A list of references to literature on the subject is given. 



Monthly Weather Review {Mo. Weather Rev., 42 {1914), Nos. 5, pp. 257- 

 308, pis. 8, figs. 17; 6, pp. 309-407. pis. 10, figs. .5.5).— In addition to notes on 

 weather forecasts for May and June, 1914, river and flood observations, lists of 



