P. E. Chase on Barometric Indications of a Resisting Aether. 157 
but they give curious approximations that seem to open a wide 
field for profitable investigation. 
“Sir John Herschel finds the direct heating effect of a verti- 
cal sun at the sea level to be competent to melt ‘00754 of an inch 
of ice per minute, while according to M. Pouillet, the quantity 
8 ‘00703 of an inch.”* Taking the mean of these two esti- 
mates (‘00728 in.), multiplying by the latent heat of water 
(142°6° F.), and dividing by the number of cubic inches in 1 lb. 
of water (28), we obtain nail 142°6 _ 037076 units of heat 
received per minute on each square inch of the earth’s surface 
_ that is exposed to a vertical sun. The weight of the aérial col- 
umn being 15 lb., and its ratio of specific heat 25, the maximum 
effect of the direct solar rays is sufficient to heat the whole at- 
mosphere ees per minute, or 7°12° F. in 12 hours. 
Now, in consequence of the earth’s rotation, the difference of 
atmospheric “lift” between noon and midnight, is 182,336 ft. 
ie minute. The average difference for the twelve hours is one- 
alf as great. “Rapid rotation, without friction or resistance, 
Cannot in itself alone be regarded as a cause of light and heat ;”* 
but we have found in our barometric investigations, that the 
Tatio of the half-daily velocity of rotation to that which, would 
conferred by twelve hours’ action of terrestrial gravity, is 
00109, which may be regarded as the modulus of heat-producing 
Tesistance. If we multiply the average difference of lift by the 
weight of the atmosphere and by the effective resistance, divi- 
ding the product by the ratio of 5 ele atmospheric heat, and 
€ number of foot-pounds raised by a unit o heat, we obtain 
91168 X 15 x ‘00109 | 
170 K +25 ; 
cated to the air by rotation between midnight and noon, and ab- 
Stracted between noon and midnight. 
__ The theoretical barometric lift is, as we have seen, -00219 of 
the entire weight of the atmosphere. Estimating the height of 
the aérial column when reduced to uniform surface density, at 
— 24,000 feet, the heat-producing disturbance that is indicated by 
the barometer is represented by a lift of 15 1b. on each square 
Pick io height of 00210 x 24000 foc, The quarter day di 
turbance from this cause is, therefore, 470 X26 = 
41°R . : 
, Itis more than likely that each of these results will require 
: t Ris weed when the entire influence of the several 
‘yndall, Heat considered as a Mode of Motion, N. Y.edit., p. 451- 
- J.B. Mayer. 
— 7-74° F, as the amount of heat communi- 
ee & 
es 
. 
