132 TEAR-BOOK OF FACTS. 



SOLAR SPOTS AND ADROR.E BORE.VLES. 



Mr. R. P. Greg, in the Philosophical Magazine, No. 132, 

 remarks : — M. Rudolph Wolf, of Berne, has shown that those years 

 remarkable for abundance of Solar Spots have also been more than 

 commonly rich in Aurora? Boreales. The great auroral display at the 

 commencement of September, 1859, occurring about the time for the 

 return of sun-spot maximum, and which seems to have been visible 

 over the greater portion of both hemispheres, appears to have been 

 the precursor of a great meteorological disturbance : in England and 

 Northern Europe more than an average amount of cold, wind, and 

 rain, have prevailed ever since ; in North America and India more 

 than an average amount of drought and heat. The opinions of phi- 

 losophers differ respecting the influence of a paucity or an abundance 

 of solar spots upon the temperature and seasons of the earth ; the 

 probability is, there is simply a general disturbance, arising from 

 increase of (solar) magnetic influence, which may produce greater 

 heat and dryness in one part of the globe, and more cold and rain in 

 other parts. 



SCIENTIFIC BALLOON ASCENTS. 



Professor Walker has presented to the British Association, the 

 Report of the Committee requested " to report to the Meeting at 

 Oxford as to the Scientific Objects to be sought for by continuing the 

 Balloon Ascents formerly undertaken to Great Altitudes." The 

 Committee would observe at the ontsetthat the main object for which 

 the former Committee, in 1S58, was appointed, remains yet un- 

 accomplished ; and this is the verification of that remarkable result 

 derived from the observations of Mr. Welsh in his lour ascents in 

 1852 ; viz., "the sudden arrest of the decrease in the temperature of 

 the atmosphere at an elevation varying on different days, and this to 

 such an extent that for the space of 2000 or 3000 feet the temperature 

 remains nearly constant or even increases to a small amount." It is 

 obviously important to determine whether this arrest represents the 

 normal condition of the atmosphere at all seasons of the year. The 

 ascents of Mr. Welsh were made between the 17th of August and 

 the 1 nth of November. The question remains whether this "arrest" 

 would be observed before the summer solstice as well as after, and 

 Whether there were any variations at different seasons. The changes 

 in the temperature of the dew-point) consequent upon this interrup- 

 tion in the law of decrease of temperature, would extend our know- 

 ledge of the condition of the atmosphere at sueh altitudes. To 

 accomplish thus much would not require ascents to wry great 

 altitudes, although there are many objeots to be attained by ascending 

 as high 'as possible. The liberal offers that have been made by 

 Mr. Ooxwell and Mr. Langley, <>f Newcastle, would enable obser- 

 vations to be made at. b \ i rv moderate cost, and Mr. Langley appears 

 fully competent to accomplish the task. 



There are al o manj other observations which may be made in 

 balloon ascents which may prove of very great value. Prof, W. 

 Thompson is anxious that observations should be made on the 



