METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON BEN NEVIS. 59 



Semmering, 3,297 feet ; Crkvice, 3,599 feet ; St. Anton, 4,285 feet ; 

 Marienberg, 4,341 feet ; Schneeberg, 4,810 feet ; Schafberg, 5,827 feet ; 

 Rathhausberg, 6,283 feet ; Schnittenhoe, 6,349 feet ; Obirgipfel, 6,706 feet ; 

 and Sonnblick, 10,154 feet. In Italy— Monte Cave, 3,166 feet; and 

 Monteversine, 4,518 feet. /« Switzerland — Chaumont, 3,701 feet ; Rigi 

 Kulm, 5,873 feet ; Santis, 8,094 feet ; and Great St. Bernard, 8,130 feet. 

 In Algeria— T:eniet-e\-B.a.a\, 3,738 feet ; and Aflou, 4,679 feet. 



Along -with these twenty seven stations several Low Level stations 

 are utilised in determining the vertical gradients of pressure, tempera- 

 ture, and moisture. Particular attention is given to the difierent direc- 

 tions of the winds at different heights, differences which so often point 

 clearly to very different distributions of barometric pressure at the higher 

 levels of the atmosphere than what prevails at sea-levels at the same 

 time. It is just these different distributions of pressure in the higher 

 layers of the atmosphere from what prevails at sea- level at the same 

 time which is most likely to aid the forecaster of weather in seeing the 

 most probable distribution of the sea level pressure one day, two days, or 

 even three days in advance. 



Now it was pointed out in our report for last jear that if the 

 forecaster can guess what the distribution of the barometric pressure will 

 be at some future time, he can state what the weather will be at that 

 time. Hence the whole problem of forecasting resolves it!>elf foreseeing 

 the arrangement of barometric pressure in the future. The distribution 

 of pressure does not shift arbitrarily, but the areas of high and low 

 pressures existing on any one day change into those of the next day by 

 movement over the earth and by increase or diminution in intensity, in 

 accordance with physical laws. 



The scientific study of the causes of the movements of these areas of 

 high and low pressures, called respectively anticyclones and cyclones, can 

 only be said to be just beginning ; and until this great inquiry has made 

 some substantial progress we cannot have a science of forecasting, as we 

 have now a science of climatological meteorology. 



This is the inquiry which Mr. Omond, aided by the staff of the 

 Scottish Meteorological Society, has entered on, and like the inquiry 

 previously referred to will take from two to three years for the prepara- 

 tion of a report showing the general relations of the observations made 

 at the two Ben Nevis Observatories to the coming changes in the imme- 

 diate future in the distribution of the sea-level pressures, which rule the 

 weather one day, two days, or three days in advance. 



It is evident that in carrying on this large work Dr. Buchan and 

 Mr. Omond require the help of well qualified assistants, and your 

 Committee have much pleasure in intimating that this has been provided. 

 As intimated in our last report a generous donor in July 1 900 sent a 

 handsome donation of 300?. to the Directors of the observatories for this 

 purpose, and as the result Mr. Andrew Watt, M.A., has been on the 

 staff during the past year. We have the further pleasure of intimating 

 that another genfleman, who desires to be unknown, has fowarded a 

 cheque for 500^. to provide additional help in carrying on these large and 

 expensive inquiries. There is thus every reason to hope that the examina- 

 tion and discussion of the work of the two observatories will be thorough, 

 and will have scientific utility in the general study of the phenomena of 

 weather, and a practical utility in its bearing on weather forecasting. 



It was intimated last year that provision had been made for the 



