November 30, 191 1] 



NATURE 



6: 



INVESTIGATION OF THE UPPER 

 ATMOSPHERES 



'T'HE results of the observations at Barbados, referred 



to in last year's report, have been discussed by Mr. 



-Cave in a paper read before the Royal Meteorological 



Society and published in its Quarterly Journal. A further 



f^£3ULTj o/^ B/fuom fliCf/^rs /PFimn 13/0/3// 



za?" 



iW 



IW 260' 



supply of balloons and hydrogen has been sent to Prof. 

 D 'Albuquerque in order that he may continue the observa- 

 tions. Some difficulty has been experienced owing to the 

 'l^terioration of rubber balloons in the climate of Barbados. 



part of the northern hemisphere, arrangements similar to 

 those described in last year's report were made for securing 

 successful ascents in the British Isles, telegraphic fore- 

 casts being sent each day by the Meteorological Office to 

 the observers. Altogether thirty-one balloons were 

 liberated, of which nineteen were recovered and sixteen 

 gave records of temperature to heights exceeding lo km. 

 Of the latter, five were sent up from 

 Crinan, Scotland, five from Pyrton 

 Hill, Oxfordshire, three from Man- 

 chester, two from Ditcham Park, 

 Petersfield, and one from Ough- 

 terard, Ireland. 



The British Association grant was 

 allocated partly to ascents made by 

 Captain Ley at Oughterard, latitude 

 53° 25' N., longitude 9° 20' W., in 

 the west of Ireland, and partly to 

 ascents made from Mungret College, 

 Limerick. At Oughterard six regis- 

 tering balloons were sent up, and 

 two of these were recovered. The 

 results are shown in the diagram, A 

 and B. 



At the March meeting of the com- 

 mittee it was suggested that the 

 authorities of ^lungret College, 

 Limerick, who had given evidence 

 of keen interest in meteorological 

 work, might be vi'illing to liberate 

 balloons during the international 

 week. Such a course would avoid 

 the recurrent expense involved in 

 special journeys to Ireland for the 

 ascents, and would permit of more 

 frequent ascents being made. The 

 college authorities expressed their 

 willingness to fall in with the sug- 

 gestion, and Mr. W. H. Dines 

 undertook to provide instruments 

 and balloons for preliminary. ascents 

 in connection with the short inter- 

 national series in June this year, and 

 to send over someone to give neces- 

 sary instructions in the preparation 

 for the ascents. 



Three balloons were liberated on 

 this occasion, and two of them were 

 recovered and gave records of 

 temperature, in one case up to 

 17 km. The results are shown in 

 the diagram. C, D. A balloon was 

 also liberated from Mungret College in July, and the result 

 is shown under E. 



At the request of the joint committee. i!i 

 Commission courteously postponed the w 



£30 



JOO' 



'■rnational 

 lor inter- 



Results obtained from Ascents of Registering Balloons in Ireland. 



Max. height 



Minimum temperature 



Place of fall 



Distance 



Direction * 



Ho Tc 



August, 1910 



JuNp, 1911 



A 



Oughterard, 

 August 8, 8. 10 p.m. 



50 km. 



Clear Inland, Co. Mayo 

 ? 50 km. 



B 



Oughterard, 

 August II, 7 a.m. 



C 



Limerick, 

 June 8, 7 a.m. 



D 



Limerick, 

 June 9, 7.10 a m. 



i5'o km. 



216° A (at i2"2 km.) 



Moyvore, Westmeath 



83 km. 



8o' 



12 km., 217° A 



17*0 km. 



212° A (at i2'5 km.) 



Kildysart 



31 km. 



280°^ 



12*5 km., 212*, 216° A 



i3'o km. 



213° A (from 117 to 13 km.) 



Buttevant 



48 km. 



II '7 I 



July, 1911 



E 



Limerick, 

 July 6, 7.10 a.m. 



21 'o km. 



2i6* A (at la 7 km.) 



Cooleeney 



56 km. 



(,B' 



" A 



Noil'!.-];. Tl,. 1,. i-his above 8 km. are rather doubtful, as the original calibration marks relatini; to '*>«. P'^f^^"'"^'' 

 returned );>.i;ydai„ai;.n!. C. Wind E. N.E., light. Faint cirrus. D. Wind N.E., force 3. (famulus no high clouds, 

 ment was u,cd, and the double record may be in part due to lag. E. Calm, cloudy, cirrus moving slowly Irom w. 



anccrl.iin, .Tn>t th'' in>ii uiueiu was 

 A rather different type of instru- 



Direction o° = N, 90= E. 



During the week August 7-13, 

 national balloon ascents had hvn 



' From the tenth report 

 meering of the British As 

 Oold (secretary). 



NO. 2ig6, VOL. 88j 



I'lIO, 



:\rr;n 



for which intcr- 



• I at the I'orlsniouth 

 w (chairman), Mr. E. 



national ascents this year from September 4-9 to September 

 11-16, in order to permit of th.. i' ni in the 



ascents attending the meeting of tl. "H ai 1 orts- 



mouth. Arrangements havo b.m m, 1 lor lurthcr .I'^cents 

 from Mungret College during (Ikh u. • k. (Since this report 



