﻿EQUIPMENT AND WORK OF AN AERO-PHYSICAL OBSERVATORY. 11 



the values of the absorption lines due to aqueous vapor be determined. 

 Becker, in the " Trans. Roy. Soc. Edin.," xxxvi, has mapped 928 lines 

 of this character. He divides the aqueous lines into three groups some- 

 what as follows : 



Wave-lengths, 6,020 to 5,666, comprising about 678 lines. 

 5,530 " 5,386, " " 106 " 



5,111 " 4,981, " " 116 " 



But this list can undoubtedly be extended, and particularly in the 

 infra-red portion of the spectrum, where we naturally would expect to 

 find the most marked atmospheric effects. We suggest, then, as one of 

 the most fruitful directions for research the exploration of the solar 

 spectrum with the view of determining the vapor present at different 

 levels under varying conditions and the application of the knowledge so 

 obtained to forecasting weather changes. A hint from Buchan, in his 

 resume of the work done at Ben Nevis, a high-level meteorological ob- 

 servatory, should not be overlooked. Although discussing temperatures, 

 his remarks will apply with equal force to vapor values : " The departures 

 from the normals, especially inversions and extraordinary rapid rates of 

 diminution with height, are intimately connected with cyclones . . . 

 and form data as valuable as they are unique in forecasting storms." W^e 

 would urge, too, the mathematical discussion of each storm, particular! v 

 with respect to storm energy and motion. The storm of August 26, 27, 

 28, 1893, sometimes known as the Sea Islands storm, from the great 

 damage done along the Carolina coast is one that will always draw the 

 attention of the meteorologist. The story of the origin of this storm, its 

 path, the terrors of the accompanying rise of the waters, whereb}^ nearly 

 twelve hundred lives were lost, has been graphically given in the popu- 

 lar magazines of the day. We propose to test with it some equations 

 given by Maxwell Hall (Jamaica Meteor. Obs., vol. i) for determining 

 storm approach when observations are available for one side of the storm 

 only. 



Other things being equal, we may assume that the storm will be re- 

 tarded b}" — 



1. Opposing conditions such as obstructive "high" — that is, a slow- 

 moving, inert anti-cyclone. 



2. Decrease of storm energy or weakening in the formative factors. 

 3.' When the slope of the diurnal and seasonal curves of pressure (and 



the reverse for temperature) is opposed in direction to the gradient 

 caused by the storm. 



Conversely, we may look for an increase of storm energy with persist- 

 ence of conditions favoring storm development. 



