332 
MR. J. WELSH’S ACCOUNT OF METEOROLOGICAL 
^ 5. Variation of Temperature with Height. 
The observations of temperature given in the preceding table, with the correspond- 
ing heights, have been divided into groups, each group being composed of the 
observations within 1000 feet*. The numbers employed are those in column II of 
the table, which have been corrected for the change occurring in the temperature 
during the continuance of the experiments, as given by corresponding observations 
at the earth’s surface. This correction is very probably inaccurate to some extent ; 
but our information is as yet so imperfect with regard to the diurnal variations of 
temperature in the upper parts of the atmosphere, that no other course has appeared 
open to me. Any error arising from this cause is probably small in any of the series 
now under consideration, with the exception perhaps of August 26, when the hourly 
changes, as well as the time occupied in the ascent, were considerable. These groups 
are contained in the following table : 
Table II.— Means of Groups of the Observations of Temperature at different heights 
in the'four Balloon Ascents of 1852, with the differences between the observed 
temperatures and those calculated by equations (1.) and (2.) from each whole 
series, and from the adopted divisions of each series. 
Date. 
Groups. 
Temperature, observed — calculated. 
No. of 
obs. 
Height. 
Tempe- 
rature. 
Whole Series. 
Lower Division. 
Upper Division. 
By eq. (1.). 
3y eq. ( 2 .). 
3y eq. (1.). 
By eq. (2.). 
By eq. (1.).) 
By eq. (2.'. 
August 17 
( 1 ) 
1 
1 
1 
1 
3 
5 
8 
7 
4 
8 
3 
4 
6 
10 
6 
6 
8 
feet 
( 120 ) 
2.440 
3,460 
4,110 
5,880 
6,800 
7,530 
8.550 
9,470 
10,680 
11,620 
12,250 
13,480 
14.550 
15,510 
16,600 
17.440 
18,490 
19,320 
(71-2) 
62-8 
59-2 
58-1 
57-8 
54-0 
51-4 
49-0 
44.4 
40-4 
37-2 
34-9 
30-8 
27-0 
24-4 
20-6 
19-6 
15-0 
10-5 
0 
— 1-4 
— 2-4 
- 2-8 
-1*9 
+ 3*2 
4-3-2 
+ 2-0 
+ 2-7 
-f- 1-0 
4-0-7 
4-0-4 
4 - 0-1 
- 0-2 
-0-7 
-0-3 
— 0-8 
4-0-9 
-0-5 
— 2-4 
0 
4-1-3 
— 1-4 
—2-4 
-1-7 
4 - 2-8 
4 - 1-6 
-hl -1 
-fi-7 
- 0-1 
— 0-4 
— 0-6 
-0-9 
— 0-9 
— 1-1 
-0-4 
-0-4 
+ 1-6 
+ 0-9 
-0-5 
0 
0-0 
0-0 
0-0 
( + 1 * 3 ) 
( + 7-3) 
( + 6 - 8 ) 
( + 6-9) 
( + 8 - 1 ) 
( + 6-9) 
( + 7*2) 
0 
(-5-1) 
(-5-6) 
(-5-8) 
(-4-7) 
( + 0-9) 
( + 0-2) 
+ 0-1 
+ 1-1 
-0-4 
— 0-3 
-0-3 
— 0-5 
-0-4 
-0-6 
0-0 
-0-1 
+ 1-7 
+ 0-6 
— 1-0 
(-7-5) 
(-7-3) 
(-7-1) 
(-5-8) 
( + 0-3) 
(-0-2) 
-0-2 
+ 1-0 
-0-4 
-0-2 
-0-1 
-0-3 
-0-2 
-0-4 
+ 0-1 
-0-1 
+ 1-7 
+ 0-5 
-1-3 
* The third group of October 21 extends only from 2000 to 2670 feet; the two observations between the 
latter height and 3000 feet, showing a marked change which refers them more intimately to the succeedmg 
group. The lowest group in each series depends solely upon observations taken in the car, with the exception 
of that of August 17, when no observations having been recorded below 2000 feet, the general temperature at 
the earth has been adopted as the first result. 
