176 RESEARCH 



METEOROLOGY AND CLIMATOLOGY 



It is sometimes to be remarked that researches 

 in a certain direction lapse and are revived after long 

 periods, and the researches supported by the Associa- 

 tion in regard to the investigation of the upper 

 atmosphere form a case in point. The work under- 

 taken by James Glaisher in 1859-66, of making 

 temperature and other observations during balloon 

 ascents, followed more or less directly upon the 

 earlier experiments such as the ascents by John 

 Welsh from Kew Observatory in 1852 ; but after 

 1866 further investigation was not undertaken by 

 the Association till 1901 though communications 

 on the subject appeared in 1884-87. Glaisher's re- 

 ports are at once valuable and entertaining, and 

 clearly indicated the way to future research ; but 

 in the early part of 1901 ( England was the only 

 important country in which no investigation on the 

 upper air was in progress/ 1 Research, however, 

 was then set on foot by the Royal Meteorological 

 Society (of which Mr. W. H. Dines was president), 

 with the help of the Meteorological Office and the 

 secretary to the Meteorological Council, Sir Napier 

 Shaw. The Association also was moved to appoint 

 a committee and to make a grant ; this and a com- 

 mittee of the society worked together, and from 

 1905 onward the Meteorological Office has had its 

 own station for the investigation of the upper air. 

 Among the published results of all this work (the 

 value of which, in view of the development not only 

 of meteorological knowledge, but also of that of 



1 Mr. W. H. Dines. 



