The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1873-09-13
1eaaaiassi. ~ Aerial Ocean,
Frvm the Daily Giaphic, August n.

From the Daily Giaphie, August n.
1t has often been remarked that we know
more Ut the phenomena of the celestial re>
gions and the remote ''star dust" Of inter.
stellar space than Of our own planet. The
remark has special significance when spplied
10 our scientific investigation Of the upper
atmosphere-a region usually abandoned by
science ~ wholly inaccessible 70 observation.
Il may seem presumptious In this day Of
empiricism to inquire into the mysteries Of
the unseen aerial world. But, despite this
seeming presumption, we Gee In every day
experience, - well - In the annals Of sci.
cnce itself. that in physical research ",he
minds cye," guided by sound physical laws,
descries new worlds far beyond the range Of
the microscope or the telescope. Reasoning
upwards from the bottom to the top Of the
atmospheric ocean, we may cs,ch some
glimpses as leass Of that inv;a,hla world.
The atmosphere 10 supposed BY some to ex.
tend indefinitely into space ill II mingles
into that fluid haze Of light" which Sir
William Hcrschel pronounced the nebu!ous,
self luminous matter out Of which hs con>
jectured the stars were made. Others have
commended that the exterior limit Of the
atmosphere IL restricted to within ifty miles
OF the carth's surface. But We know, by
mathematical measurement, that the whole
serial envelope Ut the globs weighs only one
twelve hundred thouandth part Of the lat
ter. and that ito main bulk ID condensed
into stratum not more than six miles deep.
At the summit of Etna-twO miles high
one-third Of the atmosphere 10 beneath our
feet. In the Himalayan Pass of the Ibi
0am,n, 6chhgintweit's barometer read only
thirteen inches, showing that he was then
only about four miles above tho aqueous
ocean, and yet looking down on tbree,iifths
Of the stormy aerial sca. At this lofty emf.
nence, where TO the evils of On atteuuated
cir was added the intense cold from the
glacier Of the Ibi 0am,n, far above Chin.
boraso or Mont Blanc, the daring meteor
ologiss and his party pitched their tents and
made safe sojourn Of several days. The
highest points reached BY 0laisher and his
companion were supposed to be nearly seven
miles, with iour.Afths of the atmosphers
beneath them, and the barometric column
shrunk to the height Of only 90 inches; but
as this elevation life was insupportabls, and
aa hours exposure 10 ito effects would
doubtless have proved fatal to The lcsriau
vvyasesa These facts show that the invee.
tikation Of the upper atmosphere 10 connnsjl
within very moderate altitude, and ghat
the real mass Of the serial ocean b not much
thicker, vertically, than the eoiumu Of The
deep watesy ocean scuth Of Australia and In
snme parts OF The Atlantic. The delicate
cirrus cloads which bespangls the higher
asnosphsse with thsis myriad ics spiculso.
rejecting the suns rays or the electric
aaro9al Aash, ass dissiscsly visible when not
nearer the earth thsa 10000 70 II, 90 feet.
or from two to three miles; = hat, II Q
balloon shoah asossd = high y II. 0lai.
sher did, the acronaut would b. In position
actoally 70 observe the clouds and cloud.
marked upper currents to = height Of nearly
ten miles; that b 70 ~, u lsass nine ten.hs
of ~ whole asnosphesa
Bat willis tAs vass expaass Il not, sshss
- loas bees Supposed, inpessersb,s 10
observation and exploration, W ass not
shut up 70 exploration alone for kuovlsdRs
os " once sscres ptenomsaa, siucs they
~ ksOws, IN payt. 10 reveal shsir pseesuce
asd actlvtty y s6sees distiactly ohsesvaS1s
sn she terrestrial sustsce oslow.