1882.] 



on Climate in Toion and Country. 



21 



When the snn was higher than 30° the reflected heat was hardly 

 perceptible. Hence this reflection is of the greatest value in winter, 

 when it is most wanted, and it also tends to equalise temperature 

 during the day ; for in the early morning and evening, when the sun 

 is low, and his direct heat is small, the reflected heat is greatest. 



The bearing of these observations upon winter refuges for invalids 

 is obvious. While the primary conditions to be secured must ever 

 be fine weather and a sheltered position, the next in importance is, 

 doubtless, exposure all day long to reflected, as w^ell as direct, solar 

 radiation. To realise this, a southern aspect and a considerable 

 expanse of water or snow are necessary, and it is important that the 

 sanitarium should be considerably and somewhat abruptly elevated 

 above the reflecting surface, so that it may receive, throughout the 

 entire day, the uninterrupted reflection of the sun's rays. At or near 

 the sea-level, however, it is impossible, owing to solid and liquid 

 matters floating in the lower regions of the atmosphere, to enjoy any- 

 thing approaching to a uniform temperature from sunrise to sunset. 



Although this suspended matter exists even at great altitudes, the 

 bulk of it floats below 5000 feet, and whilst only one-sixth of the atmo- 

 sphere is below this height, there is probably much more than one- 

 half of the suspended matter at a lower elevation. As might be 

 expected, therefore, solar intensity is much greater at high than at 

 low elevations, although the temperature of the air continually 

 decreases as it is further removed from the earth's surface. The 

 following tables contain observations illustrative of this point : — 



Solar Intensity. 



Station. 



Oatlands Park 

 Riffelberg . . 

 Hornli . . 



Goniergrat 



Isle of Wight 

 Riffelberg . . 

 Piz Languard 



Whitby .. . 

 Pontresina .. 

 Bernina Hospitz 

 Diavolezza .. 



Bellagio 



Shiahorn 



Schwarzhorn 



Height 

 of Barometer. 



