THE METEOROLOGY OF THE FUTURE 35 



corresponding changes that have taken place in the orography of the 

 continents, and the changes in the distribution of land and water. The 

 great gorges that extend from the Hudson through New York Bay 

 toward the Middle Atlantic and from the Congo on the western coast 

 of Africa also into the mid-Atlantic prove beyond controversy that there 

 was a time when the ocean level was 5,000 feet lower than now, relative 

 to the land on either side. Of course we know that mountain ranges 

 have risen gradually by successive slight earthquake rifts; that the 

 surface of the globe has always been cracking and bending, rising here 

 and falling there. When we are able to demonstrate clearly the con- 

 nection between our present climates and our present surface orography, 

 then we shall be able to show what geological climate must have pre- 

 vailed in any other age if the geologists can tell us what were then the 

 characteristics of the surface. I consider this to be the ultimate end of 

 meteorology, namely, the logical deduction of the climate and the 

 weather for any time and any given configuration of continents and 

 oceans. When we have attained this goal; when meteorology has 

 become more truly deductive, then we can pass to the satisfactory dis- 

 cussion of the great problems that we now can merely toy with like 

 children. Then we shall know whether Mars is inhabitable, and 

 whether man could possibly have existed and evolved anywhere on this 

 earth during geological ages preceding the present. 



I am safe in saying that it is impossible to foresee in detail the 

 problems of the future meteorology. I have by a few special cases illus- 

 trated the general conclusion that a long array of unsettled problems 

 confronts those who would understand the operations of our earth's 

 atmosphere. The fundamental problem of to-day is to educate men 

 for the work that we see is at hand. Friends of science and humanity 

 must be found who will provide for the expenses of men able to work 

 on these problems. We need laboratories, physicists and sympathetic 

 supporters. Perhaps the very first step is to provide generous fellow- 

 ships, securing a support for enthusiastic men who are adapted to these 

 researches. Atmospheric phenomena are not too difficult for us, nor is 

 there any known natural limit to our steady intellectual progress. 

 Those who are attentive to the voice of nature hear a command like 

 that given to Joshua, " Go up into the land and possess it." But we 

 also hear the voice that said unto Adam, " In the sweat of thy brow shall 

 the earth bring forth its fruit." Whatever is worth doing involves 

 hard work both physical and intellectual. We have many years of work 

 before us, many abstruse and difficult problems, but what we ask first 

 and last is your kindly sympathy and hearty support until success 

 crowns the end. 



