SYMPOSIUM ON RESEARCH NEEDS AND 

 TECHNIQUES IN PACIFIC METEOROLOGY 



CONVECTION CURRENTS IN THE ATMOSPHERE OVER A 

 SOURCE OF HEAT 



By Sir Geoffrey Taylor, Cambridge University 



[Abstract] 



This paper shows how the heat in a vertical convection ' column 



spreads out and how high it penetrates when a given supply of heat is 



released into an atmosphere with a given vertical distribution of 



temperature. 



The studies were carried out partly in connection with the dissipation 

 of fogs on aerodromes by supplying heat, and partly during work on the 

 atomic bomb at Los Alamos. 



Discussion 



Mr. Hutchings pointed out that Sir Geoffrey's results would be very 

 useful in the problems of orchard heating for frost protection, while 

 Dr. SpiUiaus pointed out that they could also be very useful in the 

 problems of waste disposal. 



Mr. Simpson gave an interesting discussion on aeroplane flights over 

 the volcanoes of Hawaii, and the results obtained in this way for the 

 temperature distribution seemed to agree quahtatively with Sir Geoffrey's 

 conclusions. 



Mr. Priestley remarked that Sir Geoffrey's analysis showed the 

 excellent results that could often be obtained by very simple methods. 



CONTROLLED ALTITUDE BALLOONS AND VERTICAL MOTION 

 IN THE HIGH ATMOSPHERE 



By Athelstan F. Spilhaus, University of Minnesota 



[Abstract] 



Flights with high altitude balloons controlled so as to fly at constant 

 pressure surfaces are described, and certain features of the trajectories of 

 the baUoons are discussed.- 



During several flights it was noticed that the barographs carried by 

 the balloons recorded oscillations with periods between approximately 

 one and ten minutes. Since these periodic height variations cannot 

 be attributed to the mechanism maintaining the level of the balloon, 

 they must be attributed to real oscillations of the atmosphere. The 

 lengths of the observed periods agree very closely with those computed 

 from the observed lapse rates of temperature. The vertical velocities 

 associated with these oscillations range up to 1,000 ft. per minute. 



Discussion 



In answer to a question by Mr. Priestley, Dr. Spilhaus said that at 

 .present the control was not sensitive enough to measure very accurately 

 small vertical velocity, such aS; for example, that due to subsidence. 



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