CLIMATOLOGY OF NEBRASKA. 33 



experiments were made, all indicating that the atmosphere was 

 exceptionally rich in ozone. 



The cause of this condition of our atmosphere is probably two- 

 fold. First, it is due to the comparative dryness of the atmosphere. 

 Second, it also results from the highly electric condition of the at- 

 mosphere. The greater the elevation, other things being equal, 

 the more abundant is the electricity (Tyndall). A friction electric 

 machine can be charged here on almost any day in the year with 

 ease. In the East during much of the time this cannot be done. 

 Now, one of the most potent of all agencies for the formation of 

 ozone is the silent discharge of electricity through oxygen, or 

 through the atmosphere which is in part composed of oxygen 

 (Barker). In fact, as Barker has shown in practice, there is no 

 agent so efficient for the formation of ozone as Siemer's Tube, 

 through which there is a constant silent discharge of electricity 

 from a Ruhmkorff coil. Now, through our dry atmosphere, there 

 is a constant electric discharge, which generates ozone in immense 

 quantities. The bearing of ozone on the question of health will 

 be considered under another head. 



