METEOROLOGY. 415 



vatious ou the temperature of the sea water observed on the coast of 

 Lapland. {Comptes Rendus, Paris, January 2, 1882.) 



Hennessy reviews the work of Ferrel and Hann on the temperature 

 of the northern and southern hemispheres, and finds that they have re- 

 moved a difficulty in his own theory of climates. {Nature, xxvi, p.520.) 



Professor Frankland seems to have for many years past been making 

 climatic observations on a uniform system in various parts of Europe. 

 His standard of sun's temperature is that given by a black-bulb ther- 

 mometer in vacuo, laid directly upon a sheet of white paper in full sun- 

 shine. His standard of shade temperature is that given by an ordinary 

 thermometer with a clear glass bulb, laid directly upon the same sheet 

 of white paper, and apparently also in the full sunshine, but shaded 

 therefrom by an arch of the same white paper, which latter, however, 

 does not prevent a free circulation of air. He finds that of all materials 

 with which he has experimented white paper reflects solar heat most 

 perfectly, and is therefore the most effective shading material. It will 

 be seen, therefore, that his temperatures are relative only, but that they 

 are comparable with each other, in so far as he has used the same appa- 

 ratus. He gives a number of observations illustrating the effect on his 

 apparatus of the nature of the surface of the ground and the diurnal 

 changes in sun altitude in various parts of Europe. (Nature, xxvi, 

 p. 380.) 



C. W. Brooks gives an abstract of a i)aper which he read on March 

 21, 1882, giving the temi^eratures of the ground in the Comstock lode at 

 Virginia City, Nev., taken by Charles Foreman, superintendent. Holes 

 for the thermometers were drilled not less that 3 feet into the rock; the 

 thermometers are inseited and the holes filled with clay. {Nature, xxi, 

 p. 592.) 



Dines summarizes his observations during the last six years on the 

 temperatures observed near the ground and ou the tower of his house. 

 The maxima are always greater and the minima lower on the ground 

 than on the tower. {Nature, xxv, p. 619.) 



In studying the conditions of temperature of the Eussian Empire 

 some time ago, M. Wild found that the irregular distribution of tem- 

 perature revealed by the isotherms might be elucidated by "isanomals" 

 (or lines of equal temperature anomalies). Among the causes of the 

 isanomals special regard must be had to the wind, which again imme- 

 diately depends oh the distribution of air-pressure, as shown by the 

 isobars. A comparison of the lines of equal pressure with the lines of 

 temperature anomalies thus suggested led M. Wild to recognize an in- 

 timate relation between the two systems.. Keasoning from the results 

 arrived at, he has attempted, with some success, to rectify the isobars 

 over certain regions where from want of observations their course was 

 somewhat uncertain, and, further, has even suggested the probable 

 existence of a pressure maximum in Northern Siberia, of which region, 

 however, little if anything is positively known, owing to the want of 

 barometric observations. {Nature, July, 1881, xxiv, p. 266.) 



