2 a 
PHYSICAL AND MATHEMATICAL SECTION. 
November 8th, 1860. 
Mr. Baxendell was elected a Vice-President of the Section, 
in place of the late Mr. Long. 
Mr. Baxendell read a Paper, “ On a System of Periodic 
Disturbances of Atmospheric Pressure in Europe and Northern 
Asia.” 
[This Paper was afterwards read at the Ordinary Meeting 
of the Society, on the 13th November.] — See Proceedings 
No 5.] 
December 6th, 1860. 
Mr. George Mosley was elected Treasurer of the Section, 
i n place of Mr. Baxendell. 
Mr. Atkinson read a Paper, entitled “ Remarks on 
Abnormal Disturbances of the Barometrical Column at certain 
Seasons of the Year.” 
Mr. Atkinson considers that all the movements in the 
atmosphere of our earth, which have received the designation 
of irregular , are caused by the reflected or radiated heat of 
the sun, and take place at a very moderate elevation, say 
within five or six miles of the general surface level ; — and that 
these apparently irregular movements or shiftings from place 
to place of lighter and heavier air, causing oscillations in the 
barometric column, are mainly if not wholly due to irregulari- 
ties of the earth’s surface. Had our earth been a globe 
possessing a smooth surface of uniform texture and properties, 
it seems clear that the atmosphere would have been acted 
