268 



MB. W. H. DINES ON THE VERTICAL TEMPERATURE 



, ana then not on the same ' ttf 



n* 



IThtstations in England will show these irregulant.es, wh.le on some other 



m 



at the boundary, changing H, rapidly by from 0'5 to 1 km., and T. by 5 

 lasionaUy even n,ore, and I am inclined to think that there some connect 

 b^Z, these disturbances and the small pressure waves of short penod that are not 

 infrequently shown on the micro-barograph. 



Discussion of the Results. 



The tables and figures given in the preceding part of this paper are, I hope, 

 observational facts about which there can be no serious dispute. In addition to 

 observations in Europe we have a certain amount of information from the tropical 

 and equatorial regions, and from America. It is certain that as the equator is 

 approached the value of H c rises, and that of T c falls. The observations are not 

 sufficient to show the connection between H., T ft and the latitude, but as an 

 approximation we may take H, = 16 km. and T c = -80 C. at the equator. 



Any theory that is to explain the general circulation of the atmosphere, 1 

 distribution of temperature, and the formation of storms, must agree with the 

 observed facts, but it is extremely difficult to form any theory without being involved 

 at once in a mass of contractions. Yet the motion and temperature, of the 

 atmosphere must be dependent on the well-known principles of mechanics and 

 thermodynamics, and it ought to be possible to get some clue that may lead to a 

 reasonable explanation. The making of observations and then tabulating them is a 

 tedious business unless it leads to something further, but all I can do in discussing 

 these results is to point out difficulties which I do not profess to have solved. 

 Firstly, with regard to the vertical distribution of temperature. 

 Mr. GOLD'S theory as to the reason of the decrease of temperature up to a certain 

 height, put briefly, is this (' Roy. Soc. Proc.,' A, vol. 82, p. 43, 1908). Any layer of 

 air is dependent for its temperature on the four following sources of heat : 

 radiation from the sun, radiation from the earth, radiation from the neighbouring layers, 

 and convection from below, this latter including the supply due to condensation. Its 

 temperature will be such that its loss of heat by out radiation will just balance these 

 sources of supply. Above, the isothermal convection ceases and absorption and 

 radiation are equal. The paper should be consulted. The numerical values are of 

 course somewhat doubtful, especially since the amount of aqueous vapour at different 

 heights is uncertain, but the whole theory seems eminently reasonable, and apart from 

 details explains the general fact of the isothermal region. If this theory be correct, 

 then air that is below the mean temperature for its own height and for the season 



