The New York herald., 1874-08-17
ATMOSPHERIC OOMETHRY INYL,
ENCES.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD

TO TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
On the 3oth OF July, 1874 made an agrisg ex.
ploration from the city OF Philadelphia unaer the
direction or the meteorological section OF the
Franklin Institute, with instructions to make
such observations as the day and circumst tances
would invite. keeping In view the marked disturb
ances OF our atmosphere for some time past and
during the proximity OF C0ggia's comet. The
main experiment designed In q series OF balloon
observations to be made was to ascertain the
quantity OF solid matter contained in the air in the
form OF animal and vegetable spores and particles
noatlng over Cities as provided for by A. Purves,
Esq, In his contribution that end but being de-
ferred until the necessary instruments were pre-
passd by Dr. William II. Wahl, scientist OF the In
sti ute
took with me, as assistants, my niece Mrs.
Ihng, and my grandson. Master John Wise, they
being ntrusted with the thermometer and barom-
eter. The day was clear and warm, and the sky
overhead slightly dotted with cumulus clouds. but
these disappeared before we assembled 1t oc-
CURED to me that Coggia's comet during its peri
helion passage would necessarily cast a penumbra
over and through the atmosphere OF our planet,
and that this might be the cause OF the extraordin
airy meteorological disturbances that assailed our
earth with "cloudbursts" and foods. Now, 1t Is
an established meteorological law that the tenn
perature Of our atmosphere dlminishes with the
height IN regular order. so have found IL In my
thirty nine years experience in cloudand In my
446 aerial voyages, with only one exception.
REMARKABLE INCREASE OF HEAT.
had no idea tnat when should make my 447th
ascensi0n-tne one in queston--that would meet
with such decisive meteorological conditions con-
frmatory OF the presence in our atmosphere OF o
disturbing cause. reasonably 10 be attributed to
the action OF COggia's comet Before leaving the
earth had the thermometer secured in paper
shade where, at the moment Of leaving the earth
1t marked ~ degrees (Fahrenheit. Another ther-
mometer, exposed in the car. marked 81 degrees.
TEis instrument was broken In the ascent. had
intended to have the two noted all the time, but
owing to this accident the shattered one was the
only one used. At one minute past four p. NJ. we
cut loose rom the earth, and now, without a DE-
tailed narration OF sights sensations and Incidents,
| Will briefly state the results obtained. As we rose
we iet much like approaching vast cOnnagra-
Amt II getting hot up here F' AS the anerOld
gave the altitude, 80 did the thermometer register
an increase OF heat This seemed 80 remarkable
to me, and 30 adverse to my long aerial experience,
that very naturally sought lOr the cause Ol the
phenomenon. The sky was clear OF clouds except
view. In nlne minutes after we cut loose from the
earth we rose TO an altitude Of 5,400 1eet the
southern portion OF the city, and the thermometer
| marked eighty-one degrees. From this moment
! Tor two hours and fifteen minutes the following
! observations were made, and IN order to be more
| struments In the hands Of my assistants. | held
| the watch, and, whenever called time they would
| answer with temperature and height. The aneIOid
| marked the Ieet OF altitude on Its vernier.