‘NS 
324 Terrestrial Climate as influenced by the 
to elevate the mean temperature of the earth, than the surface 
of the water, and this action is generally ascribed to the superior 
heat-absorbing power of land compared to water. Upon thi 
assumption is mainly founded the beautiful and elaborate theory 
. of geological climates, which Sir Charles Lyell first published 
in his Prineiples of Geology. Although Fourier had previously 
indicated the possible influences exercised upon terrestrial tem- 
er by the physical conditions of the earth’s outer coatin 
e had not given his views such a definite shape as to ena 
him to deduce any conclusions from them for the solution of the 
great problems of terrestrial physics which have so much occ 
pied the attention of philosophical geologists. 
If the conclusions of the theory now referred to be corrett, it 
follows that predominance of land over water between the = 
ics, where an absorbing surface would be most advantageously 
circumstanced for acquiring heat, should result in producing the 
highest possible degree of general terrestrial temperature. 
the contrary, the earth’s general climate would. be reduced toa 
maximum of coldness by a predominance of land towards t 
polar regions, and of water towards the equator. The views de- 
the views on which this conclusion is based. reographit 
f we look over a terrestrial globe, or a good ste! n3 
projection of its surface,* we soon perceive that in ied ners 
sae, disfuse ‘the greatest amount of heat over absorbing sd 
ces, quantity of 
the equator. Each hemisphere absorbs the greatest quan lm 
0 
of 
the 
_ * M. Babinet’s homolographic maps are still better adapted for 
as that now made. See Arago Astronomie, tome iii, p. 344, 
: sof te Ba 
Association for 1856, Trans. Sections, p. 112. 
