Modern Meteorology, a Series of 6 Lects. Delivered Under the Auspices of the Meteorological Society in 1878 Volume 13 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 edition. Excerpt: ... LECTURE II. AIR TEMPERATURE: ITS DISTRIBUTION AND RANGE. The subject on which I have the honour to address: you this evening is one that may perhaps be considered as trespassing somewhat on the domain of geography. I will not admit the trespass; but I will readily admit that not only this, but a great deal of meteorology, is very closely related to that branch of geography which seeks, by reference to Physical Science, to illustrate or interpret the facts observed in different parts, of the world. I should be sorry, indeed, to think that meteorology was limited to reading off thermometers, or making other exact measurements; just as I should be sorry to think geography was nothing more than exploring, surveying, or map-drawing. If geography is to be understood as the study of the earth and all that belongs to it, it embraces meteorology, which is the study of the superincumbent air--that air which we breathe and in which we live. But in any case, the two sciences, if not united, are so connected, as to be at many points inseparable. Of these, the study of climate is certainly one; for if anything happens to make us personally interested in any place, the very first questions we ask concerning it are as to the climate. To the half-intending settler these are everything: --Is it healthy? is it wet? is it dry? is it hot? is it cold?--these are the questions which principally fix his purpose. There are, doubtless, many other points which have their own weight: good harbours, a ready market, a teeming soil, luscious fruits, heavy grain crops, succulent grasses: but though even these are but another way of stating some of the conditions of climate--rain, sunshine, or tempest--though they have thus a direct meteorological bearing, they are...