TEMPERATURE OF ASCENDING CURRENTS VON BEZOLD 343 



the center of gravity so far as this comes into the problem, as also 

 the energy needed to increase the progressive motion of the whole 

 mass so far as it occurs, are negligible in comparison with the work 

 done otherwise. 



Hence therefore the two ways that have been used to compute 

 the cooling of ascending masses of air, and which apparently lead to 

 the same results, are by no means to be considered equivalent. 

 They would in fact both be false because of neglect of the supple- 

 mentary term above mentioned, if the work of lifting is to be 

 introduced. 



But in this case all investigations in this field, beginning with 

 Kelvin, Reye, and Hann, as also those of Guldberg and Mohn down 

 to the latest works on the dynamics of the atmosphere would fall 

 with one blow. 



The fundamental importance of the whole question has alone 

 moved me also, independent of the wish of the editors of the Meteoro- 

 logische Zeitschrift, and quite contrary to my general habit, to 

 treat this simple question with so many repetitions of well-known 

 things, in such breadth and detail, that I feel as though I ought to 

 apologize to those familiar with the subject. 



I hope that I have been successful in finally dissipating any doubts 

 that may still linger here and there and in proving that under ordi- 

 nary conditions there can be no work done by lifting in the ascend- 

 ing atmospheric currents but that in these cases the work of expan- 

 sion alone comes into consideration. 7 



7 By later publications of A. Schmidt (see Gerland's Beitrage zur Geo.- 

 physik, 1899, IV, pp. 1-25; 1903, V, pp. 389-400) the contradictions between 

 his views and mine have been considerably diminished. (Added 1905. 

 W. v. B.) 



