THE UPPER AIR.

Progress, Volume III, Issue I, 1 November 1907, Page 19

THE UPPER AIR.

There is an interesting account in a L,ondon weekly of the use to which the meteorologists put the kite in taking observations in the upper air. The vagaries of the air far above the earth's surface supply the meteorologist with most valuable data on which to base his predictions. The kite used is a boxshaped affair, and its equipment consists of a meteorograph, which records moisture, barometric pressure, temperature, and wind velocity. A height of four miles has been reached with such instruments, but the meteorologist generally confines his observations to a height of one mile. This height is the region of storm. Gales of 100 miles an hour are common, and clouds have been observed to travel at 174 miles an hour. The advent of a hot wave has been predicted six or eight hours in advance, owing to observations taken at this height. It is hoped that the kite will solve the problem of the origin of cyclones and anti-cyclones, which would be the crowning triumph of meteorology. Already our ideas of wind have had to be considerably modified. Wind is not a current of air moving horizontally and fairly uniformly, but it consists of many small currents buffeting each other, and finally mingling with each other. The component parts of breezes vary in speed and direction. Some go up and some go down ; some forward and some back. A strong upward current is always found under the cumulus type of cloud — the cloud that resembles a puff of steam ; and kites caught by this current are carried to a great height. It is supposed that the soaring bird knows of the upward current instinctively and makes use of it, and uses the contrary currents when flying against the wind. A kite has the advantage that it can go up in any weather but a calm, when a small balloon will take it to the region of wind. Even in the clearest weather electricity streams down the wire holding the kite, and shows itself by tiny sparks on the reel. When a kite is 12,000 feet high, or when a thunderstorm is at hand, the sparks become larger and more dangerous. Sometimes the electricity has to be earthed. But to gather the electricity from the upper air and make use of it, as often suggested, is said not to be worth while. " However intense atmospheric electricity may be, its quality is not sufficient to justify purpose."

Another French company is said to have purchased a colliery in the Swansea Valley, with the object of exporting large quantities of Welsh coal to France.