EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE BY DOUGLAS ARCHIBALD, M. A. FELLOW AND SOMETIME VICE-PRESIDENT, MAR TRANSFER FROM C. D. 1916 13 ÷ J 35-20 ૩ 551.5 cop 2 I HAVE desired in the present little work to put forward the main features of our knowledge of the conditions which prevail in our atmosphere as they are interpreted through the science of today. The Atmosphere, unlike its solid partner, contains no gold or coal mines with which to stimulate scientific research. Its study has consequently been somewhat neglected until of late years, and is even now only just emerging from the stage of myth and speculation into that of fact and certainty. This desirable result has been chiefly attained by the disuse of vague speculation and the application of the known laws of physics. I have therefore written, not for the minority, who vaguely wonder at the relation of extraordinary facts and pass on, but for what I believe to be that much more numerous section who are not content with a mere collection of facts, but want to know the reason why. I have levied largely upon the original works of the more modern school of meteorologists which is so ably represented in America, India, and Germany-and am under especial obligations to those of Prof. Davis of Harvard, Prof. Loomis 5 021064 of Yale, Mr. Ferrel of Washington, Prof. Sprung, and Prof. Waldo. I have purposely omitted the subject of weather and descriptions of instruments, and only briefly touched upon climate, and have rather endeavoured to show, especially in the chapter on Flight, that the Atmosphere possesses growing uses and interests quite apart from, and in addition to, its consideration as a vehicle of weather. |