The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-28
BALLOONS WILL
PROBE AERIAL SECRETS

thermometer which shows the correspond
ing temperatures at these heights,
The Importance of this work is that it
will give the scientists their first oppor-
tunity to find out something definite about
the conditions in the upper atmosphere
over this continent. Regarding the Euro
pean higher attitudes, they are already
beginning to acquire some knowledge. 1t
is now about ten years since the French
meteorologists first began sending up
what were derisively called "lost ball
LOOMS" as means of testing the direc-
tion Of the air currents at great eleya-
tions. No recording instruments were at
tached at first. A few years ago, how
ever, the custom grew up of attaching i'm
struments to the balloons, and there came
about lively rivalry between France and
Germany to make this method of probing
the atmospheric heights most useful, and
to penetrate furthest into the upper strata
BY sklllful manipulation, ascents of fifteen
miles began to be accomplished, and the
temperature properly recorded
A Monthly Observance Day.
Then presently there was established
tiic Aernnantins ~ mh;nh M, TOE poteh te1 !,
the American member. This commission,
which has it's headquarters at Strassburg,
in Germany, has given especial attention
to ascensions, and has established a
monthly day for the international ascent
of balloons and kites, which is observed
by meteorologists in most of the countries
Of Europe. On this day balloons and kites
are sent up simultaneously ali over the
continent. and kites are flown at Blue Hill,
and from the records thus obtained it is
! possible to tabulate the meteorological
conditions prevailing simultaneously at
various heights. These results have been
published at the cost Of the German gov
eminent.
meeting of this commission is to be
held in ST. Petersburg In August, and
plans developed for future work, includ-
ing, probably, arrangements for studying
the atmosphere over the oceans. where
| balloons. OF course, cannot be used, by
means of kites flown from the STEAMSHIPS
deck-a plan that was first tried by Mr..
Rotch and his associates of the Blue Hill
observatory In 1901, and the kite thereby
rendered independent Of the natural wind.
A Stratum Of Warm Air.
What the scientists hope to gain from
the Investigations Of this summer at st,
Louis is at least a fragmentary knowl-
edge OF the Temperature and other modi-
fications Of tn atmosphere at great
heights over the United States. In par
; ttcular they hope to discover whether a
stratum OF warm air, which has been
dipped into by balloons ascending from
Europe to heights of six and eight miles,
extends over the western hemisphere as
well. The very existence of such stra-
tum was unsupported until recently. In
deed, not SO many years ago even the sci
entists supposed, as most laymen certain
~ suppose now, that the air grows steadi-
~ colder, at the rate of about 20 degrees
per mile the higher you go up. 1t is now
a well established fact that there are all
sorts Of notifications OF this law, and DUR
ing the progress Of scientific kite-fying
which was first developed as an important
branch Of meteorological work by the Blue
Hill observatory, which is now q part OF
Harvard university, the actual status of
the atmosphere at different seasons and In
varying weather conditions up to height
Investigated.