﻿118 ATMOSPHERE IN RELATION TO HUMAN LIFE AND HEALTH. 



The capacity of vapor and water of existing in varioas states in the 

 air, and the reasons for the great differences of state observed, whether 

 as dry or wet fog, mist, haze of several sorts, clouds of many sorts, 

 ice particles and snow crystals of very many different forms, snow flakes 

 of various shapes and sizes, hailstones of various shapes, construction, 

 and sizes, and soft hail, or graupel. 



The temperature of fogs and of their bounding edges. 



The climatic and geological effects of coverings of ice and snow. 



The relation of the temperature of oceans, seas, and lakes to the 

 climate of the neighboring parts. 



The variations and ranges of temperature with height in different 

 latitudes and climates. 



The extension of soundings of the high atmosphere with thermome- 

 ters and other instruments by small balloons on the plan recently suc- 

 cessful in Paris or at Yaugirard. 



The observation by means also of small balloons and recording instru- 

 ments of temperatures at various heights above the ground in different 

 kinds of weather, say at 2,000, 4,000, 6,000, 8,000, 10,000, 12,000, 14,000, 

 16,000, 18,000, 20,000, 24,000, and 28,000 feet. Such observations may 

 give very valuable information for the purposes of forecasting, for there 

 is reason to believe that certain kinds of stormy weather are charac- 

 terized by very great differences between adjacent strata, especially 

 in cold weather and at high altitudes, and that these differences are 

 diagnostic symptoms in many cases. In fine, settled weather the 

 changes are probably much more regular with increase of height. 



The absorption, in air, of radiant heat of low refrangibility in differ- 

 ent kinds of weather both along horizontal planes and vertically, and 

 obliquely 5 and the relation of absorption to actual and following 

 weather. The amount of absorption, which might easily be measured 

 by a thermopile and galvanometer directly toward a constant source of 

 heat, or by a bolometer, would be an interesting subject of inquiry in 

 connection with obscure states of vapor and water in the air, and with 

 the forecast of weather. 



The loss of heat by drops passing through a known distance of air, 

 both dry and humid, in a certain time. The relation of the rapidity of 

 the loss of heat to the size of the drop, and the difference between the 

 temperatures of the drops and of the air. Similar exi^eriments could 

 be made with ice bullets. The results might elucidate some points in 

 connection with the evaporation and growth of raindrops and with the 

 growth of snowflakes and hailstones. A high tower in frosty weather, 

 or a shot tower, might be convenient for these experiments^ or a cliff 

 of sufficient steepness and height. 



The effects of the mixture, on a rather large experimental scale, of 

 masses of air of different temperatures, humidities, and electrical 

 states, and of different electrical sign. The resulting humidity, fog 

 formation, and electrical state. 



