

WATER-BEARING POWER OF WINDS. 7 



matter. It may be added, that such is supposed to 

 be very much the condition of the moon at present. 

 The terrestrial ocean is therefore according to our 

 view altogether dependent for its continued existence 

 upon the atmosphere. 



We have already referred to the question of the 

 water-bearing capacity of the winds in a previous 

 chapter, * but perhaps it may be convenient here just 

 to mention the infinitesimal proportion which the 

 vapour of water contained in the air bears to the 

 volume of the whole atmosphere; for it is something 

 so small as to seem almost inappreciable in comparison. 

 In the volumetric analysis of air, Bloxam considers 

 that on an average the proportion of aqueous vapour 

 is about 1.4 per cent, f This will of course be in air 

 taken at the earth's surface; but it must be borne in 

 mind that the amount of watery vapour rapidly 

 diminishes as we ascend into the atmosphere; this is 

 conclusively shown by the condition of air at great 

 elevations on mountain ranges, which is always found 

 to be in an exceedingly dry state ; indeed it has been 

 asserted on what is generally held to be good authority, 

 that very little of the vapour of the atmosphere passes 

 much above the tops of the higher Himalayan peaks. 

 We think it right however to say on this head, that 

 while we are hardly disposed to go altogether so far 

 as that, still that there is evidence enough to show 

 that the main volume of this vapour is confined to the 

 lowest stratum of the atmosphere. The intense cold 

 of the higher atmosphere is in fact, of itself prima facie 



* See Vol. i., Chapter iv., on "Climates and Temperatures." 

 j Chemistry Inorganic and Organic, by Chas. L. Bloxam, 7th edit., 

 p. 60, 1890. Edited by J. M. Thomson and A. G. Bloxam. 



Encycl. Brit., gth edit., Vol xi, p. 129 (Article "Himalayas"). 



