1903.] Olscrrations obtained by the Use of Kites. 



" Meteorological Observations obtained by the Use of Kites off 

 the West Coast of Scotland, 1902." By W. N. SHAW, Sc.D._ 

 F.R.S., and W. H. DINES, B.A. Eeceived April 28, Eead 

 May 14, 1903. 



(Abstract.) 



The paper presents the results of the first organised attempt to- 

 obtain a series of automatic records of temperature and humidity in 

 the upper air of the British Isles, or neighbouring seas, by means 

 of kites. They are derived from the records of forty kite ascents, 

 in which instruments were raised, and which were carried out by 

 Mr. Dines and his two sons, under the auspices of the Royal Meteoro- 

 logical Society in co-operation with a committee of the British 

 Association, during the months of July and August, 1902. Two of 

 the ascents were from a small island in Crinari Bay, Argyllshire, the 

 remainder from the deck of a tug steaming in the Jura Sound or 

 neighbouring sea. Kites were raised on seventy-one occasions, but, 

 on thirty-one of them, the force of the wind, even when assisted by 

 the speed of the tug at seven knots, was not sufficient to raise the 

 recording instruments. On those occasions an experimental form of 

 registering air thermometer alone was carried. The average recorded 

 height of ascents with instruments was 5900 feet (1940 metres),, 

 and average computed height of the seventy-one ascents 4200 feet 

 (1400 metres); a height of 12,000 feet (3700 metres) was passed 

 on two occasions, and 15,000 feet (4500 metres) was reached once, 

 but the record was lost owing to the breaking away of the highest 

 kite. 



The kites and winding gear were designed and constructed by 

 Mr. Dines. Particulars are given in the Quarterly Journal of the Royal 

 Meteorological Society, vol. 29, p. 65, 1903.. 



The average angular elevation given by the kites with a short 

 length of line was 62 30', the greatest height reached with one kite 

 was 5500 feet (1700 metres), with two 9200 feet (2800 metres), with 

 three 12,400 feet (3800 metres). 



The method of dealing with the records is described and illustrated. 

 The results are expressed on a diagram representing, by a series of 

 points and connecting lines, the height in the air of a series of 

 temperatures with successive intervals of 1 C. for each ascent. The 

 diagram thus presents a set of isothermal lines referred to time 

 and height as co-ordinates. So far as the observations extend, the 

 changes in the actual and relative positions of the lines show how 

 the temperature varied at the surface and in the upper air during the 

 period of the experiments. 



On account of the unsatisfactory nature of the hygrometric records. 



