TEOPIGAL NATUEE, 



AND OTHER ESSAYS. 



I 



THE CLIMATE AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OE THE 

 EQUATORIAL ZONE. 



The three Climatal Zones of the Earth— Temperature of the Equatorial Zone 

 — Causes of the Uniform High Temperature near the Equator — Influence 

 of the Heat of the Soil — Influence of the Aqueous Vapour of the Atmo- 

 sphere — Influence of Winds on the Temperature of the Equator — Heat due 

 to the Condensation of Atmospheric Yapour — General features of the 

 Equatorial Climate— Uniformity of the Equatorial Climate in all parts of 

 the globe — Effects of Yegetation on Climate — Short Twilight of the Equa- 

 torial Zone — The aspect of the Equatorial Heavens — Intensity of meteor- 

 ological phenomena at the Equator — Concluding Kemarks. 



It is difficult for an inhabitant of our temperate land 

 to realize either the sudden and violent contrasts of the 

 arctic seasons or the wonderful uniformity of the equa- 

 torial climate. The lengthening or the shortening days, 

 the ever-changing tints of spring, summer, and autumn, 

 succeeded by the leafless boughs of winter, are constantly 

 recurring phenomena which represent to us the estab" 

 lished course of nature. At the equator none of 

 these changes occur ; there is a perpetual equinox and 



B 



