METEOROLOGY. 415 



pressures and temperatures in cyclones and anticyclones, with the circulation 

 and radiation; (3) the thermodynamics of the atmosphei-e from balloon as- 

 censions to great altitudes; (4) the thermodynamics of the general circulation; 

 (5) the distribution of the radiation in all latitudes and altitudes to 20,000 me- 

 ters; (6) the 'solar constant' of radiation and the conflicting results from py- 

 rheliometers and bolometers; (7) the discrepancy in the absolute coefficient of 

 electrical conduction as derived from the several apparatus for dissipation, and 

 for the number and velocity of the ions; (8) the diurnal magnetic variations 

 in the lower strata of the atmosphere; (9) the nonperiodic magnetic varia- 

 tions in their relation to the solar radiation; (10) the magnetization and elec- 

 trical terms in the sun at very high temperatures." 



Variations in the intensity of the heat rays from the sun with the season 

 of the year, H. H. Kimhall {Amer. Univ. Courier, 21 {19J/f), No. S, pp. 22-25).— 

 Comparison of radiation intensities at Washington, D. C, and Mt. AYeather, 

 Va., are reported and briefly discussed, attention being called particularly to 

 the three principal factors which tend to equalize summer and winter inten- 

 sities, namely, distance from the sun, water vapor in the air, and dust par- 

 ticles. Attention is called to the fact that the warmer temperature of the air 

 in summer is not due so much to solar radiation absorbed as to the greater 

 number of hours of sunshine in s\immer and the larger amount of terrestrial 

 radiation. 



Volcanic dust veils and climatic variations, H. Aectowski {Ann. N. T. 

 Acad. Sci., 26 {1915), pp. 149-17^, figs. 7; abs. in Nature [London], 96 {1915), 

 No. 239Jt, p. 80; Sci. Abs., Sect. A—Phijs., 18 {1915), No. 11, p. 585).— "Pre- 

 liminary investigation on temperature records led to the conclusion that a gen- 

 eral rise in the temperature of the atmosphere was probably due to an increase 

 in the solar constant. Further reductions of the curves with special reference 

 to departures from monthly means, and including the epochs of great volcanic 

 eruptions such as Krakatoa (1883) and Katmai (1912), now show that the 

 short-period variations of temperature have nothing in common with the pres- 

 ence or absence of volcanic dust veils." 



An article covering substantially the same ground has been noted from an- 

 other source (E. S. R., 33, p. 806). 



Variation in annual rainfall, A. Hazen {Engin. Nexvs, 75 {1916), No. 1, pp. 

 4, 5. fig. 1). — The areas having the same coeflicient of variation in annual rain- 

 fall are shown on a map of the United States, and the value of such informa- 

 tion, especially from the engineering standpoint, is briefly discussed. While 

 this map is looked upon as simply a first rough approximation, it serves to 

 give a fairly accurate idea of the general conditions of rainfall variation. It 

 is considered most reliable for the eastern part of the United States. It indi- 

 cates that the coeflicieut of variation is lowest on the Atlantic coast, and gener- 

 ally higher on the Pacific coast and in mountainous regions. For example, the 

 coeflicient of variation is 0.15 at New York and 0.3 at San Francisco. 



Temperature variations, A. Angot {Compt. Rend. Acad. Agr. France, 1 

 (1915), No. 28, pp. 789-793). — From a study of temperature variations at Paris, 

 briefly discussed in this article, the conclusion is drawn that monthly, seasonal, 

 and annual temperature variations in France are entirely fortuitous, and that it 

 is not possible to predict future by means of past variations. 



Yields in their relation to weather and the possibility of further increases 

 in them, W. Dik {Mitt. Dent. Landw. GeselL, 29 {1914), Nos. 29, pp. J,21-42J,; 

 SO, pp. JfSl-435; abs. in Jahresbcr. Landw., 29 {1914), PP- 3-5). — Data are given 

 for yields of various crops and for temperature, rainy days, precipitation, and 

 sunshine at Hadmersleben, Germany, during 1911, 1912, and 1913, and an at- 

 tempt is made to correlate the weather conditions with the crop yields, espe- 



