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LYlll. Ahstrad of a Memoir by M. Leopold de Buch on the 

 Limits of the perpetual Snows in the North*. 



J. HE determination of the absolute height of the perpetual snows 

 u\ different latitudes is one of the most important branches of 

 physical geography : this height depends essentially on the climate 

 or mean temperature of each place ; so that in order to attain the 

 laws of the distribution of heat at the surface of the globe, it will 

 be sufficient to know the height to which we must ascend under 

 different parallels in order to attain the limit of the snows. 



The observations made imder the tropics by Bouguer and De 

 Humboldt, those of Saussure, the determinations not less precise 

 of M. R amend in the Pyrenees, — have proved that near the equa- 

 tor, as in the temperate zone, the lowermost limit of the snows 

 agrees sufficiently with the mean temperature. This is not the 

 case in the north of Europe, where, according to the most recent 

 measurements, the limit of the perpetual snows is more elevated 

 than one could have supposed from the mean state of the ther- 

 mometer : besides, it is in Norway only that we can immediately 

 observe it. Although the mountains of Sweden are numerous and 

 very high, they attain almost no where the height of the perma- 

 nent snows ; so that this phaenomenon is in that country as much 

 unknown as in the greater part of France or Germany. 



The observations of M. de Buch were made upon several peaks 

 of that vast chain of mountains which divides Norway throughout 

 its whole length, and extends without interruption from the 58th 

 to the 71st degree of north latitudef. The peak of Saletinds, 

 the elevation of which above the level of the sea is 1794 metres, 

 exceeds very little the limit of the snows : M. de Buch fixes it at 



* Annales de Chimie et de Physique for June 1816, tome ii. p. 183. — 

 Tliis interesting^ paper was read by M. de Buch to the Institute in March 

 1810; but it was not printed until 18l6: at the conclusion of a French 

 translation (by M. Eyries) of M. de Buch's Travels in Norway and Lapland. 

 We regret that tiic limits of diis Journal compel us to abridge the present me- 

 moir : we have taken care, however, to suppress nothing important, and have 

 adhered as closely as possible to the words of the author. — 'Note ty Messrs. 

 Gav Lussac, and Arago, editors of the Annates de Chimieet de Fhysique. 



t This ciiain yields to very few mountains in Europe in point of height, 

 and surpasses them all by its extent and mass. When we traverse the Alps 

 or the F'yrenees, and scarcely arrived at the Passes we commence suddenly 

 to descend, we know of no pass exceeding a leasjue in breadth. On tlie 

 Long Field in Norway, on the contrary, when we have ascended a valley to 

 its origin, we see a platform or ridge stretching out, the height of which is 

 almost every where 1400 metres above the level of the sea, and the breadth 

 eight, ten, and even twelve leagues. It is impossible to traverse the chain 

 in one day c the inhabitants of the west side, wlio must pass over these de- 

 serts to go into the eastern provinces, are obliged to pass the night there, 

 at the risk of losing themselves in everlasting mists, and perishing of cold in 

 the midst of tempests and whirlwinds of snow. — M. de Buili. 



Vol. 48. No. 222. Oct. ISIG. T )C90 metres, 



