August 20, 1891 



NATURE 



389 



, Hann's work inadequate and not quite correct. Dr. Hann's 

 t memoir demonstrated that the temperature conditions of anti- 

 ^" cyclones, and probably extra-tropical cyclones.are inconsistent with 

 ' theconvectional hypothesis as worked out by Prof. Ferrel, and he 

 suggested as an alternative that their cause is to be sought in the 

 general circulation of the atmosphere. Bat he did not originate 

 this view, which had been put forward long before by Werner 

 Siemens ; nor did he attempt to develop it. It is incorrect, 

 therefore, to represent this hypothesis as the miin object of 

 his memoir. In connection with the work of the Weather 

 Bureau, of which Lieut. Greely is Director, he notices the experi- 

 ments of Prof. Marvin on wind pressures and velocities, which 

 confirm the results of some previous experimenters in proving that 

 the indications of the Robinson anemometer are too high ; also 

 that pressures computed from velocities by the usual formula are 

 much in excess of the truth ; the result being that the pressure 

 computed from the readings of the Robinson anemometer, when 

 the actual velocity is sixty miles per hour, is 50 per cent, too 

 high. Other subjects briefly noticed are Finley and Hazen's 

 work in connection with tornadoes, and Prof. Russell's on cold 

 waves. 



In a pamphlet entitled " Physical and Geological Traces of 

 Permanent Cyclone Belts," Mr. Marsden Manson treats of a 

 somewhat large subject in the small space often pages. Starting 

 with the assumption that the main features of the barometric 

 zones of the earth have been the same throughout past ages as 

 they are at the present day, and that there has always been a 

 belt in the north temperate zone, between 50° and 60° N. lat., 

 which is the mean track of maximum cyclone frequency and 

 low mean pressure, he infers that, owing to the diminished 

 pressure, this has always been an axis of upheaval, and at the 

 same time, owing to excessive precipitatian, a zone of maximum 

 denudation. His id3as are apparently suggested by the geo- 

 logical structure, the orographic and meteorological features of 

 North America, and little or no attempt is made to verify his 

 inferences by the geological and meteorological conditions of 

 Europe and Asia, which hardly seem to bear out his hypothesis. 

 Thus he instances the Archaean axis of Canada as the secular 

 result of upheaval and denudation along an axis roughly coincid- 

 ing with the average storm track ; but he omits to show any 

 similar relations between the Archaean rocks of Bohemia or the 

 Alpine chain and the average course of storms in Europe. It is, 

 however, altogether premature to criticize a theory put forward in 

 so crude a stage of development, and it is hard to see what 

 service can be rendered to science by such premature publica" 

 tion. 



Dr. W. Doberck has published the observations made at 

 the Hong Kong Observatory in the year 1889. Returns were 

 received from forty land stations, and extracts from logs of 

 ninety-three ships which visited Chinese waters were collected 

 during the year, and will be utilized in investigations of the 

 meteorology and typhoons of the Eastern seas. The stations 

 in connection with maritime meteorology extend to the Island of 

 Luzon, and a most valuable station has been established on the 

 Jsland of Formosa, by the Chinese Maritime Customs. The 

 observations of the rain-band have been regularly continued, 

 and have been found of use both in prediction of fine weather 

 and of heavy thunderstorms. An advance Report issued for 

 1890 shows that considerable improvement in the storm- warning 

 service ha? been effected by the connection of the Observatory 

 with tTie telegraph offices. A committee of inquiry which sat in 

 the early part of 1890, has recommended that more financial 

 and other assistance be given to Dr. Doberck in carrying out 

 his work. 



The Central Meteorological Office of Paris has recently 

 published its Annaks for the year 1888, consisting of three 

 NO. I 138, VOL. 44] 



large quarto volumes. Vol. i, contains :— A discussion by M. 

 Fronon the character of the thunderstorms of the years 1887 and 

 1888, with charts for each day on which such storms occurred ; 

 a review by M. Moureaux of the magnetic observations at Park 

 of Saint Maur, together with facsimile curves of the most in- 

 teresting disturbances. Owing to an agreement with Green- 

 wich Observatory, the curves published in this country and in 

 France will generally correspond to the same disturbances, and 

 will therefore allow of interesting comparisons. RhumSs of the 

 magnetic observations made at 53 other stations in France are 

 also published. A discussion by M. Angot of the phenological 

 and other periodical phenomena during the years 1886 and 1887. 

 These observations have now been continued for eight years. 

 M. Angot has also studied the effect of the amount of cloud on 

 the daily variation of temperature at Paris. A paper by M. 

 Raulin on the seasonal rainfall of various countries in Europe, 

 in which he shows that when a number of years are taken into 

 consideration the condensation of vapour follows a regular 

 seasonal range, with a minimum in winter and a maximum in 

 summer, where the range is not interfered with by secondary 

 causes, such as proximity to the sea, &c. M. Teisserenc de 

 Bort presents a paper on the mode of formation of types of 

 isobars, and on the theory of the general circulation of the 

 atmosphere, illustrated by diagrams. Vol. ii. contains the 

 observations made at various stations and mountain observa- 

 tories, including also several stations in Algeria, Egypt, 

 Panama, &c. Vol. iii. contains values of rainfall at a large 

 number of stations, with monthly, seasonal, and annual charts. 

 The actual number of stations reaches nearly 1800, and daily 

 values are published for 925 stations. 



A REMARKABLE weather change is reported to have occurred 

 at Orenburg on November 19, 1890. After a temperature of 

 3°C., with heavy rain, there was a fall to - 30° C. in 20 

 minutes. Some thirty Kirghises, who were returning to Oren- 

 burg, were drenched with the rain, then frozen on their horses. 

 Ten of them had been found, and the others were being sought 

 for. Many horses and other animals succumbed to the cold. 



Snow-drifts are found a serious disturbance of the Russian 

 railway system. With a view to forecasting such occurrences, 

 M. Sresnewskij has lately collected information about snow- 

 drifts on the Russian lines during 1879-89 {Rep. fiir Met.). The 

 drifts occur in the Northern and Eastern Governments, chiefly 

 with south-west wind, but in Southern Russia with north-east. 

 In the north, greater gradients are required than in the south. 

 The maximum of the drifting is in mid-winter, but there is more 

 in the second half of winter than in the first, that having more 

 snow. In course of winter the snow grows in thickness, so that 

 in March there is more to drift than in December. The marked 

 diminution of drifting in February is due to the less wind in that 

 month (a fact not yet explained, as the number of cyclones 

 shows no decrease). Two kinds of drifting are distinguished ; 

 it may be only or chiefly snow lying on the ground that is 

 whirled and carried along, or the wind may drive falling snow. 

 There are most drifts in the months that have least snowfall 

 and the smallest number of days of snow. The snow-drifts in 

 South Russia with north-east wind are chiefly connected with 

 anticyclones in the central region, or cyclones on the southern 

 border ; those in the east and north with cyclones in European 

 Russia. In Central Russia they occur with cyclonic winds of 

 various direction, seldom with anticyclones. 



An investigation (more comprehensive than the previous ones 

 by Forel, Fritz, and others) of the variations of Alpine glaciers, 

 has been recently made by Herr Richter, of the German and 

 Austrian Alpine Club. To six advances of glaciers, previously 

 known, he adds three, and his account of the six differs some- 

 what from previous ones. The dates of commencement of the 



