ATMOSPHE^IOLOGY. 377 



SECT. IV. 



Appearance, Colour, Transparency, Density, de- 

 gree of Dryness, and state as to Electricity, of 

 the Atmosphere. 



The appearance of the Greenland atmosphere, 

 corresponds in some degree with the winter sky of 

 Britain ; the colour of the former is, however, of a 

 deeper azure ; and its transparency, when clear, and 

 free from icy crystals, perhaps more perfect. 



Far within the borders of compact ice, the atmo- 

 sphere, in summer, is often cloudless, and the wea- 

 ther serenely pleasant, though cold. But in the 

 usual fishing-stations, and on the exterior of the ice 

 in general, a clear sky is not frequent ; neverthe- 

 less, when it does occur, its transparency is peculi- 

 arly beautiful. The sun sometimes sweeps two or 

 three times round the Pole, without being for a mo- 

 ment obscured by a cloud. Objects the most re- 

 mote, may be seen perfectly distinct and clear. A 

 ship's top-gallant-mast, at the distance of five or six 

 leagues, may be discerned when just appearing 

 above the horizon, with a common perspective glass ; 

 and the summits of some mountains are visible at 

 the distance of sixty to a hundred miles. This 

 perfect clearness, occurs most frequently before east- 

 erly winds. In general, however, especially in very 



