C. E. Dutton—LEffect of a warmer Climate upon Glaciers, 17 
higher rate is merely the same rate which prevailed formerly at 
an earlier date. In the first half of the winter, the original 
rates and amounts of precipitation have only been postponed to 
later dates without change of value. In the last half of the 
winter the original rates and amounts of precipitation have 
merely been anticipated on earlier dates without change of 
value. The rates and amounts which have been anticipated 
and postponed have taken the place of rates and amounts which 
have disappeared entirely and without compensation. 
2.) Let us now look at some of the qualifications to the 
(33.) There is also one general exception which is indepen- 
dent of the distribution of wet weather throughout the year, 
and in which a warmer climate would produce increased snow- 
fall. Ifa region exists any where on earth, such that the mean 
temperature of precipitation all the year round is considerably 
low zero, then a warmer climate will—up to a certain limit 
—have the effect of increasing the rate of precipitation without 
affecting the time, and hence there will be an increase of snow- 
fall. But the moment the temperature of precipitation passes 
above zero in any part of the year, then the shortening of the 
ume of snowfall begins and proceeds at maximum rate of short- 
ening for any further increase of temperature, and thereafter 
the conversion of snow into rain will subtract more snow than 
the increased temperature of precipitation will add. 
(34.) The possibility of obtaining a greater snowfall by a 
warmer climate then is limited to such localities as are now ex- 
tremely cold—to localities situated either very near the poles, 
or at altitudes far above the present line of perpetual snow. In 
all other places a warmer climate would add to the rainfall and 
Am. Jour, Sor.—TarEp Suries, Vou. XXVII, No. 157.—Jan., 1884. 
