METEOROLOGY CLIMATOLOGY. 458 



been found that in many instances the inhibition of the catalytic decomposition of 

 hydrogen peroxid ))}' various metals is due to the formation of thin insoluble pro- 

 tective films over the surface of the metal, the formation of which is brought about 

 by the action of the inhibitor on the metal. 



During the decomposition of hj'drogen peroxid, the authors could observe no evi- 

 dence of the formation of atomic oxygen. It has been found, however, that various 

 catalyzers act as oxygen carriers in the presence of hydrogen peroxid, and tliat with 

 the exception of catalase all substances which break down hydrogen peroxid act as 

 oxygen carriers. It is believed that the physiological function of catalase is not to 

 effect the decomposition of hydrogen peroxid as a means of protecting the cell against 

 the toxic action of this substance, but rather that catalase is a substance or mixture 

 of substances having a tendency to combine with hydrogen peroxid to form a very 

 unstable holoxid derivative which immediately decomposes wi"th the evolution of 

 molecular oxygen. The authors are inclined to look upon catalase as a reducing 

 substance, wliich may under some conditions combine with atmospheric oxygen to 

 form an oxidase. 



METEOROLOGY— CLIMATOLOGY. 



Meteorology at the British Association, A. L. Rotch {Science, n. ser., 18 

 {1903), No. 4*^4, l^P- 657-661). — The author reports that meteorology received much 

 "attention at the Southport meeting of the association. This was largely due to the 

 fact that the International ]Meteorological Committee met with the association, and 

 thus brought together jirominent meteorologists from different parts of the world. 

 Meteorology also predominated in the Physical Section of the association, which was 

 divided into two subsections, one of which recognized meteorology as a distinct 

 branch of physics. A commission was appointed to study the relations of solar phys- 

 ics to meteorology; the continuation of exploration of the upper atmosphere by 

 means of kites was recommended; and the author's project to study the atmosphere 

 over tropical oceans by means of kites flown from steamships was indorsed. 



"Professor Hildebrandsson announced that the discussion of the cloud observa- 

 tions which had been made simultaneously in various parts of the world indicated 

 the following to be the circulation of the atmosphere at different heights: (1) Above 

 the thermic equator and the e(juatorial calms there exists throughout the year a cur- 

 rent from the east; (2) al)ove the trades an anti-trade blows from the southwest in 

 the northern hemisphere and from the northwest in the southern; (3) this anti-trade 

 does not pass the polar limits of the trades, but deviates more and more to the right 

 in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern, so as to become a current 

 from the west over the barometric maximum of the tropics where it descends to 

 increase the trade; (4) the regions situated at the equatorial limit of the trade join 

 sometimes that of the trade, sometimes that of the equatorial calms, according to the 

 season; (5) the jaressure of the air diminishes gradually toward the poles, at least 

 beyond the polar circles; (6) the upper layer of air in the temperate zones flows 

 over the high pressures of the tropics and descends there; (7) the irregularities 

 found at the surface of the earth, especially in the regions of the Asiatic monsoons, 

 generally disappear at the height of the lower or intermediate clouds; (8) it is 

 necessary to abandon couipletely the idea of a vertical circulation between tropics 

 and poles, hitherto assumed, according to James Thomson and Ferrel." 



The weather and. practical methods of forecasting' it, E. B. Dunn {Neit^ York: 

 Dodd, Mead & Co., 1902, ],p. VIII-{'356, ]:>ls. 7, Jt(jx. 21).— It is stated that in this 

 work "it has been the aim of the author to avoid all mathematics, and scientific 

 and technical terms, and ])resent the subject in the simplest and most popular form. 

 Rules and methods for determining weather changes are given from a personal and 

 practical experience of tlie author Cf>vering nearly HO years." The topics treated in 



