TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 39 
nected with the thermometer, barometer, hygrometer, rain, November atmospheric 
wave, remarkable appearance of the planet Venus, auroral phenomena, solar halos, 
a remarkable appearance of the Via Lactea, lunar circles and halos, winds, weather, 
and thunder-storms. 
Note on Observations of Temperature. 
By Dr. F. A. S1nsEstTROM, of Stockholm. 
In a discussion of thirty years’ meteorological observations at the Observatory of 
Stockholm, I have pleaded the necessity of taking meteorological media for shorter 
periods than a month, which latter seems to me to be quite unfit as a meteorological 
period. I have divided the year in seventy-two parts, viz. each month in six parts 
of five days (except the last part of the month, whose length varies between five and 
six days, and for February between three and four). By this means I have not 
only been able to ascertain quite decided laws in the yearly movement of the tem- 
perature, which never could have been detected by monthly means (for instance, 
three very well-defined minima during the winter, a quite remarkable sinking of the 
temperature in the beginning of May, &c.), but also to show the intimate connexion 
between the changes of wind and temperature, and to find, in a somewhat new 
manner, a confirmation of Dove’s celebrated ‘“ Drehungsgeschichte.” But it is 
impossible here to enter into further details. 
On the Desirableness of renewing Balloon Ascents in England for Meteoro- 
logical Objects. By Colonel Syxxs, F.R.S. 
~ With reference to the desirableness of renewing the balloon ascents, I shall limit 
myself to a very few words. The Section is aware that in 1852 the Kew Committee 
of the British Association effected four ascents. The observers who fearlessly went 
up in the balloons, were Mr. Welsh, Mr. Nicklin, and the veteran aéronaut Mr. 
Green. The results of the observations were published in the ‘ Philosophical Trans- 
actions ;” and Mr. Petermann, in the ‘ Mittheilungen,’ has given a coloured diagram, 
from which, by a coup d’qil, the accordances or discordances in the results of the 
four ascents at the different heights at which the same temperature occurred, are 
seen, 55° and 32° are sufficiently marked. The four ascents took place from Vauxhall 
Gardens, near London. ‘The temperature of 55° on the different days was met with 
at 6800, 3900, and 950 feet respectively. At the fourth ascent, on the 10th of 
November, the temperature at the surface of the earth was below 55°. The freezing- 
point in the two ascents in August, occurred at 13,200 feet; on the 21st of October, 
at 10,900 feet; and on the 10th of November, at 8500 feet. Now these differences 
may be owing to the different angles of the sun on the respective days of observation, 
and it would not be prudent to consider the indications as normal conditions. Again, 
the rapid diminution of temperature in the upper portion of the ascents leads to the 
inference of an almost inconceivably low temperature at the surface of the earth’s 
atmosphere. It was found, also, that the tension of vapour, which at the surface of 
the earth was very considerable, at nearly 23,000 feet was scarcely appreciable. 
All meteorological investigations require so many repetitions to ensure trustworthy 
results, that I cannot believe that the Mathematical Section will consider investiga- 
tions into the conditions of the upper strata of the atmosphere exceptional. I trust, 
therefore, that | only anticipate the wishes of the Section, when I express a hope 
that it will recommend to the General Committee to cause another series of balloon 
ascents to be undertaken. dos AX 
On a New Construction of Standard Portable Mountain Barometers. 
By G. J. Symons. 
The author showed an instrument, which was very portable, easily set up, and 
when packed, only 43lbs. weight. 
Particulars of an Ascent of Mont Blanc. By Professor Tynpatt, F.R.S, 
The author spoke particularly of the enthusiasm of a guide named Balmat in the 
cause of science, and of the efforts that that person had already made towards the 
