The Present State of Meteorology. 15 



meteorological observation holds a prominent place in the 

 world's work, and that there is no niggard contribution from 

 State or other public funds to aid in the undertaking ; and 

 wliile it will also be seen that in addition to the collection 

 of statistics, which are in themselves valuable, a foretaste of 

 what may be hoped for from systematic investigation has 

 been actually realised in both Great Britain and America, 

 it cannot but be admitted that meteorology has not yet 

 become a science. To those who know the difficulty and 

 complexity of the problems involved, this is no matter for 

 surprise. Nevertheless, if, after all the time, money, and 

 labour spent upon observation, and the enormous mass of 

 statistics collected, we are compelled to this conclusion, the 

 question forces itself upon us whether or not the inquiry of 

 nature has been in the right direction, or whether there are 

 not other modes of inquiry necessary to elucidate what the 

 usual modes of observation have as yet failed to do. These 

 questions I cannot pretend to answer. I feel confident^ 

 however, that our inquiries must be extended in new direc- 

 tions before further theoretical knowledge can be secured. 



The present system of meteorological observation consists 

 in measuring and recording at each particular locality the 

 variations of temperature, pressure^ movement, and humidity 

 of the atmosphere, the amount of heat radiated from the 

 sun by day and sent back from the earth into space by 

 night, the amount of water evaporated from the earth's 

 surface, and the amount returned to it in the shape of rain. 

 To these may be added as matters of observation at some 

 places the electric condition of the air, the temperature of 

 the exterior crust of the earth, and the variations of terres- 

 trial magnetism. Although nearly all observers agTee that 

 these constitute the orthodox items for observation, they 

 are not at all agreed as to the best methods of obtaining 

 them ; there is a diversity of apparatus, different methods 

 of exposure, and different times for observation. Some 

 observations considered of paramount importance in one 

 country are neglected in another, and so on. In order, 

 however, to establish one universal and accordant system, a 

 congress of European meteorologists was formed a few years 

 ago, which has met from time to time at the various cities 

 of Europe to discuss matters connected with this part of 

 the subject. Recommendations have already been issued 

 and co-operation invited by the congress, but the existing 



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