592 
WAPORL 
[OcroBER 19, 1899 
General Rykatcheff, director of the Russian Meteor- 
ological Service, the Committee recommended that 
meteorological institutions should take part in obsery- 
ations of earthquake phenomena. With regard to Ant- 
arctic exploration, the Committee expressed the opinion 
that it is highly desirable (1) that the results of these 
explorations should be completed by data from the 
observatories already existing in the southern hemisphere, 
and by those made on board vessels traversing the 
southern oceans; (2) that new meteorological stations 
should be established in the southern part of the Ant- 
arctic regions, and especially that magnetic observations 
should be organised ; (3) that magnetic determinations 
over the whole globe should be made simultaneously 
with those made during the expeditions. With reference 
to the valuable researches of Dr. Hildebrandsson relating 
to the great centres of action of the atmosphere (which 
have already been noticed in our columns), the following 
resolution was adopted :—“ The Committee appreciates 
the high interest attached to observations made in a 
regular manner in different regions which seem to possess 
special importance as to our knowledge of the general 
laws of the motions of the atmosphere.” Profs. v. Bezold 
and Mascart drew attention to the preposed establish- 
ment of a very complete meteorological and magnetical 
observatory at the Azores by the Prince of Monaco, 
assisted by Captain Chaves, of the Portuguese navy, who 
has entirely devoted himself to the realisation of this 
undertaking. On the question of the calculation of daily 
meteorological means, it was decided that if the exact 
formula 
a Bier) 237224) 
is not adopted the midnight observation should be taken 
into account at the end of the day, as is already done at 
most stations, according to the formula 
I+2+3.-.. +24: 24. 
On the proposal of Dr. Hann to publish tables of 
diurnal range of temperature for each country in a 
special form, the Committee, while appreciating the 
interest and importance of the proposal, expressed its 
opinion that, as the question possessed a general bearing, 
it should be examined by a sub-committee, which should 
determine the form of table to be adopted by all countries. 
On the subject of the importance of actinometric obsery- 
ations, also brought forward by Dr. Hann, the Committee 
expressed the hope that the sub-committee for terrestrial 
and solar radiation would present a report upon that 
subject at the next International Congress. M. Violle 
submitted a note on the various methods employed for 
actinometric measurements. On the proposal of Dr. 
Pernter as to the desirability of the restriction of observ- 
ations with the wet-bulb thermometer and the multipli- 
cation of observations with the hair hygrometer, the 
Committee came to no decision, pending the presentation 
of a full report upon the question. Dr. Paulsen, director 
of the Danish Meteorological Institute, drew attention to 
the importance for weather prediction of the laying of a 
cable between Iceland and Europe, towards which the 
Danish Government and the Great Northern Telegraph 
Company were prepared to make a considerable annual 
subvention. The Committee fully recognised the im- 
portance of the proposal, and expressed its hope of the 
ultimate success of the project. Profs. Neumayer and 
v. Bezold made a proposal relative to the publication of 
an international periodical weather report (recently re- 
ferred to in our columns), which should contain ten-day 
means from about a hundred stations. The Committee 
was of opinion that it would be desirable that a definite 
plan of the proposed publication should be prepared for 
examination by each meteorological service. A sub- 
committee, composed of MM. Pernter (president), 
3illwiller, Neumayer, Rykatcheff, Mohn and Tacchini, 
NO. 1564, VOL. 60] 
was nominated for the purpose of considering the ex- 
tension and improvement of international telegraphy for 
weather prediction. Finally, it was decided that the 
International Meteorological Committee and the various 
sub-committees should meet in Paris in the year 1900, 
immediately after the Meteorological Congress which 
will take place on the occasion of the Exhibition. This 
Congress will probably be held during the first half of 
September. Weare indebted to M. Lancaster’s summary 
in Cie/ et Terre for the notice of this meeting. 
THE COMING SHOWER OF LEONIDS. 
DPSING the past few years English observers, in 
their efforts to witness returns of the Leonid 
meteors, have met with little but disappointment. Either 
the firmament has been overcast at the important time, 
or the display has been very weak. The rarity and 
singular attractiveness of a really fine meteoritic ex- 
hibition are such that the immediate prospect of viewing 
an event of the kind has aroused great interest in the 
whole subject of shooting stars. But we have been a 
little premature in our anticipations in recent years, and 
looking for the appearance of the meteors before the 
vanguard of the denser portion of the stream had begun 
to cross the earth’s path. There can, however, be no 
doubt as to the character of the ensuing display. The 
earth will be sure to encounter one of the richest regions 
of the orbit at the middle of November, but whether or 
not this collision will occur at an hour perfectly suitable 
for its observation remains to be seen. It must be ad- 
mitted that the exact time of the vezcontre cannot be 
definitely stated. The materials upon which computations 
have to be based are not sufficiently numerous and con- 
sistent to enable exact deductions to be drawn from them. 
Moreover, there is evidence to show that the system of 
meteors is constantly undergoing changes. The particles 
are spread out, and are still spreading out, over a very 
considerable section of the orbit, and are subject to per- 
turbations by the larger planets. Different sections of 
the stream are affected unequally, so that the whole 
system, both as regards its conformation and distribution, 
suffers from such irregular disturbances, that we must be 
prepared for the visible signs of developments of an un- 
expected character. In the present state of our know- 
ledge it is impossible for us to allow for all the various 
circumstances and conditions which control the visible 
aspect of the shower, from year to year, and modify its 
orbital elements. 
Calculations which have been made independently by 
several authorities show that the influence of Jupiter and 
Saturn, since the last return of the shower in 1866, has 
been exerted in increasing the node, so that the pheno- 
menon may be expected a day late in the present year 
It will probably occur just before sunrise on November 16. 
Drs. Stoney and Downing, in a paper published in the 
Proceedings of the Royal Society, vol. Ixiv. p. 406, state 
that a noteworthy outcome of their investigations is that 
the meteor-group which gave rise to the display in 1866, 
made a near approach to Saturn in 1870, and to Jupiter 
in 1898. On the latter occasion the meteor-cloud was 
distant from Jupiter by an interval of space less than that 
separating the earth and the sun. Berberich (Ast. Wach., 
3526) has also discussed the orbit-perturbations of the 
Leonid stream, and concludes that the meteors will 
appear about a day later than they would have done 
under normal conditions. If there had been the average 
annual displacement of the node (equal 102’°6) the re- 
currence of the shower might have been anticipated on 
November 15 at about 1 a.m., but the perturbations seem 
to have increased the longitude of the node to the 
extent of 11°; so that the greatest intensity of the dis- 
play must be awaited on the morning of November 16, 
in the twilight preceding sunrise. 
