1906.] on International Science. 858 



by 2000?. The principal items of tlie expenditure were formed by 

 contrilnitions towards the maintenance of six stations in the Northern 

 and two stations in the Southern Hemisphere for carrying out the 

 observations relating to the changes of the position of the earth's axis. 

 The whole cost of this service is about 4450/. The honorarium of 

 the Secretary is 250/., which, together with the cost of printing, post- 

 age, and a small item for grants towards special scientific work, makes 

 up the expenditure. No charges are made for office expenses, which 

 are defrayed by the Prussian Government. 



The geodetic work indirectly gives us valuable, though only partial, 

 information on the interior of the earth, but it confines itself in the 

 main to the surface of the globe ; the investigation of the atmosphere 

 carries us beyond. 



In an address delivered to the British Association at its Belfast 

 meeting, in 1902, I expressed the opinion that meteorology might be 

 advanced more rapidly if all routine observations were stopped for a 

 period of five years, the energy of observers being concentrated on the 

 discussion of the results already obtained. I am glad to say that 

 meteorologists have taken seriously a remark, the echoes of which 

 still reach me from distant parts of the earth. They disagree 

 with me, but their disagreement is of the apologetic kind. I do 

 not wish to retract or to weaken my previous statement, but merely 

 now qualify it to the extent that it is only to be applied to two dimen- 

 sional meteorology. There is a three dimensional meteorology as far 

 removed from the one that confines itself to the surface of the earth 

 as three dimensional space is from a flat area. Three dimensional 

 meteorology is a new science, which at present requires the establish- 

 ment of new facts before their discussion can properly begin. The 

 extension of our range of observations by kites and balloons is of com- 

 paratively recent origin. Mr. Archibald in this country, was one of 

 the pioneers of meteorological investigation by means of instruments 

 attached to kites. In the United States, Mr. Rotch having estab- 

 lished a separate observatory, succeeded in convincing scientific men 

 of the great value of the results which could be obtained. Mr. L. 

 Teisserenc de Bort, who established and maintained an observatory 

 for dynamic meteorology at Trappes, near Paris, rendered similar 

 services with regard to " pilot " or manned balloons carrying auto- 

 graphical instruments. The aeronautical department of the Royal 

 Prussian Meteorological Institute, with Dr. Assmann at its head, 

 under the direction of Professor von Bezold, also made a number of 

 important contributions in the early stages of the work. Professor 

 Hergesell, of Strasburg, similarly made numerous experiments, and 

 chiefly through the efforts of those whose names have been mentioned, 

 and more especially Professor Hergesell, an international agreement 

 has been secured by means of which kite and balloon ascents are made 

 in several countries on the first Thursday in each month, and on three 

 consecutive days during two months of the year. A large station for 

 Vol. XVIII. (No. lOo) 2 a 



