Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-08-14


A knowledge of the coming weather
enters so intimately into every con-
templated human action that the ques-
ton is often asked: What are the
prospects for further improvement in
the accuracy of weather forecasts, and
can the seasons ever be foretold? The
answer is that, while the government
mas corps OF forecasters who are
now applying all of the knowledge of
the atmosphere that has been re-
vealed, little hope for material i'm
provement in their work can be held
out until substantial addition is
made to the pure science of the prob
lem. This can only come through ex-
pertinent, study and research. With
200 stations engaged in applying the
science, 1t is wise economy to de-
vote at least one of them to the work
OF adding to the knowledge that is
COW costing us nearly a million and a
half of dallars annually to apply. Ac-
cordingay, those in charge have en-
deavored to lay out plan of study
and~research leading to an increase in
our knowledge of the laws governing
the atmosphere such as should event
, ually enable our successors, if not our
selves, to add to the accuracy Of
weather forecasts and to make them
for a longer period in advance.
In order that this country may do
its share toward the advancement Of
, meteorology along the lines that
specially relate to conditions in Amer
lea, it is imperative that the weather
, bureau should establish an observa.
tory for its own special research work.
A piece of land has therefore been Sc
, cured and work has been inaugurated
, at an establishment that is intended
to respond to the present and prospec-
tive needs of meteorology. This es-
Enlistment is called the Mount
Weather Research observatory, and is
organized on broad and elastic basis.
In order to prosecute the researches
contemplated at Mount Weather, a
plant has been established there espe-
c1ally adapted to the investigation Of
the physical condition of the atmos-
phere at great elevations above the
surface of the earth. Hitherto our
knowledge of the conditions of tenn
perature. pressure, humidity and wind
velocity and direction has been based
upon observations made at or near
the surface of the earth or upon
mountain peaks. Current conceptions
OF the laws of storms and Of the gen.
eral circulation of the atmosphere are
based upon such observations almost
entirely. Records obtained in recent
years by means of balloons have dem
onstrated the existence of hitherto IN
suspected variations and contrasts in
temperature at very great elevations.
and have shown that observations on
mountain tops and at equal elevations
In the free air vary widely.
The necessity for a better know!-
edge of temperature conditions at
great elevations has directed the
minds OF many meteorologists to the
study OF the best methods for lifting
self-recording instruments high above
the earth's surface. The result has
been the invention in recent years of
ingenious forms of kites and of spe-
cially designed balloons for this DUR
pose. The kite has again become an
instrument for scientific research, and
now enables VI to bring down records
of atmospheric conditions at eleva-
tons of two and three miles, and even
of four miles, as was recently DEM
onstrated at the German aeronautfcal
observatory near Lindenberg. By
means of small rubber balloons. mar
velously light self-recording instru.
ments have been carried up to the re-
markable heights of ten to Is miles.
bringing back records of low tempera-
lures and high velocities which have
been a revelation to meteorologists-
records which are compelling a recon.
struction of existing ideas concerning
the dynamics of the atmosphere.
Pioneer work along these lines was
begun some years ago by means of
kites, both at weather bureau stations
and, under the direction of Mr.. A. L.
Rotch, at the Blue Hill observatory.
near Boston. BY experiments begun
at st. Louis at the time of the worlds
fair In the sumner of 1904, Mr.. Rotch