The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-25
WI ETEOROLOGY.
The International Congress at
Vienna This Summer. a
Subjects To Be Considered and Important Quss-
tions To BE solved-The Brussels Confer
- snce- Marine Researches and Meteorology
III TO Be Discussed-suggestions by Prof
I'D L Ruys Ballot. of Utrecht, ON Unifor-
2 g nifty Of Meteorological Reports

q g ca 81 = rnt,l lI.sl- cs u 5C-rl e@,I
Arrangements ave now being perfected In Europe
for a. grand International Congress Of meteoroo-
glsts to- be held this summer at Vienna. Such an
assembly has long been desired by scientific men
both sides the Atlantic ana, under the inspiring
genius Of the great Dutch meteorolOgist, BUYS Ballot
that desire IL rapidly ripen1ng into fruluon. Pro-
lessor Ballot Is the dscoverer who next to own
RedheId must ever be regarded as the Kepler Of
storm physics, has fashomed the atmosphere and lis
mysterious circulation more deeply than any man
now living. He publisnes the Outline Of q scheme
for obtaining uniformity Of weather observations
all over the world. From ths modest, yet able and
learned programme we coilate the following inter.
eating and valuable materials. The proposed meet
ing Of savans viii be the great scientific movement
Of The century. hnB 6ia sta s.L -cr
TIE NEED OF AN INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL
CONGRESS-. w
In the following pages have endeavored to re-
view some OF the questions that may be discussed
at meeting OF the General Congress Of Meteoroo.
gsts to be held. probably al Vienna In the course
OF the present year.
The want OF such Consr ess is deeply felt ana
whenever 1t meets 1t will be OF great utility. Nor
can it be but saving of much time, If attention be
previously directed, however imperfecty, to such
subjects are likely to be submitted to considera-
ton.
M. Mnhry's inquiry into the local influence Of
mountains, or rain and wind, and the investigations
OF the progress Of storms by Messrs Buchad, Dove.
clement Ley, LOOMS, Moon lie verrier. and espe-
caly OF the origin OF depression systems-the great
problem TO be solved-nave engaged my most
serious attention.
Soon after the establishment Of the Royal Dutch
METEOROLOGICAL Institute l expressed hope that
come me.eor0loeisfs would assemble a Con.
meteoroogy that they might draw up some
rules to be followed in making observations,
in directing their calculations, and agree on the
form IN which they should exhibit their tables.
Twenty years anu more have elapsed since that
time and q General Congress has not yet been held
From this 1t appears that the late M. Krei the in
telgent director Of the meteorological observations
in Austria, had good reason to afx three notes Of
Interrogation to my request.
The UNITY OF u Congress- cannot be doubted, espe.
claiy II attention be previously drawn to the most
TuS Finsr BRUSSELS coNrrREscE OF 1882
We may state this: since even the meteorological
Congress held at BRUSSELS In 1897, Oh the Claims and
interests Of navigation and the systematic arrange.
ment of observations at sea, mas avon great luz
lutes in England ana on the Continent OF Europe,
by which navigation has been shortened and hints
them. The only roprOach that can be made to this
Congress y that TOO many Iaa observations lions
and many OF which T. IL psychrOmetical observa-
be expected 10 be made with sufficient accuracy.
Now, tins ts Just what we should avoid, and he
Every one must Consider the usage prsvaiins In MS
own country and The extent OF mis- means; we should
tnat one VINO Is ordered to observe
e co u'n to his one OWN uasmen Liberty
science should her spirit guide all our inquiries. By
some very general indications they may be directed
motel by cooperation Of ALL only sucn restrictions
should be made as are necessary to contribute TO
were BY pToposnr some paes and
them. BY this means we may obtain general
method to be followed in making our observations
"'" THE GREAT WISH OF SCIENCE
If we now ask what are the most extensive wishes
1t is without doubt this. that al observed phe.
nomena everywhere, at all times, continually noted
AFRICA Is uninhablted for the greater part France
could give US the north coast, England has done
mucn on the south point, and along the Suez Canal
some stations have arisen. The Continent OF Asia
to Russia which centralize5 her vast territory.
Is entrey left TO England on the south coast, and
Ia the isles of Asia there are observations OF Spain,
Portugal and the Netherlands. Dr. Bergsma Will try
to do for our colonies what mas been done Tor our
little country, whenever he has obtained the
required for that purpose. Australia, where the
English nag noats, mas many observatores; but on
the northern confines IL Is unlnhaDlted. America
has long series or observatories IN the northern
part OF It. We only want them to be combined, that
SUITS and IN the latter years some observations
have been Corrected IN the highly interesting Jour-
the ocean are discussed by England, Holland and
the Institute lSeewarte) or Hamburg. Shall we not
follow the example OF England, establishing OBJ.
servatories where there is the greatest want Of
them2
UNIFORM TIME FOR OBSERVATIONS.
A great many difficulties may again arise about
the place that would appear to have sort OF pre-.
ference being Indicated as that wherein the time or
Carthage tmDOse
world, We hope, however, that no such impedi-
ment Ike that Of the diverse weights ana measures
ton-places from which the Longitude at sea is
80 much has been done for r'I general
metooroiogy, for we may answer readily, ii we do
me ical ia6ors and the Isle OF Ferro wnere
nothing has been done, wnen narrow mlndedness
ing TO Cancellation and mutual help, let the ballot
DECIDE.
ton may fairly insist on their opinion being taken
THERMoMErRIo READINGS.
The tunnel OF Mont Cents affords an extra0r-
binary opportunity Tor ascertalning temperatures
in places separated by thick strata from the surface
the interest in these researches is hereby more
awakened, and we appreciate more fully what
already has been done at some fundamental observa
tories situated on formations above Others appro.
prated to inquiries OF TINS SORT The observers there
will be induced 10 place their thermonletrical
,d as deep ssv possible Tor
and It's range in the upper strata gives
W. sufficient Information in relation TO plants, we
are In behalf or the theory OF ellurc heat very de-
sirOus TO know what happens In the deepest strata
that we may better ascertain the quantity OIL heat
emitted by the earth, ana conclude Its refrigera
ton which has been called into question by
Laplace, since ne did not pay due attention 10 the
cadseS by which the rotation Of the earth Is re.
tarde0 rfs' ...e.s.
psYoHRoMErER READINGS.
II below dry air passes through a column Q! va.
Dor and divides IL into two, the upper part, OWING
To Its tension ceases TO operate on the lower part
and the tension OF the lower part may at first have
remained the same, let we are sensible that the
layer OF vapor divided by such current OF Dir no
longer works correctly on the psychrometer be.
meath. Everything above us In the form oil nebuous
or falling drops acts as 1oatlnI or sinking bodies
only by the weight The quantity Of vapor beneath
exercises an immediate and great influence on the