the dominion of the air-第35章
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It was the 12th of January； 1864； with an air…current on the ground from the S。E。； of temperature 41 degrees；； which very slowly decreased up to 1；600 feet when a warm S。W。 current was met with； and at 3；000 feet the temperature was 3 1/2 degrees higher than on the earth。 Above the S。W。 stream the air became dry； and here the temperature decreased reasonably and consistently with altitude； while fine snow was found falling out of this upper space into the warmer stream below。 Mr。 Glaisher discusses the peculiarity and formation of this stream in terms which will repay consideration。
〃The meeting with this S。W。 current is of the highest importance； for it goes far to explain why England possesses a winter temperature so much higher than is due to her northern latitude。 Our high winter temperature has hitherto been mostly referred to the influence of the Gulf Stream。 Without doubting the influence of this natural agent； it is necessary to add the effect of a parallel atmospheric current to the oceanic current coming from the same regiona true aerial Gulf Stream。 This great energetic current meets with no obstruction in coming to us； or to Norway； but passes over the level Atlantic without interruption from mountains。 It cannot； however； reach France without crossing Spain and the lofty range of the Pyrenees； and the effect of these cold mountains in reducing its temperature is so great that the former country derives but little warmth from it。〃
An ascent from Woolwich； arranged as near the equinox of that year as could be managed； supplied some further remarkable results。 The temperature； which was 45 degrees to begin with； at 4。7 p。m。； crept down fairly steadily till 4；000 feet altitude was registered； when； in a region of warm fog； it commenced rising abruptly； and at 7；500 feet； in blue sky； stood at the same reading as when the balloon had risen only 1；500 feet。 Then； amid many anomalous vicissitudes； the most curious； perhaps； was that recorded late in the afternoon； when； at 10；000 feet； the air was actually warmer than when the ascent began。
That the temperature of the upper air commonly commences to rise after nightfall as the warmth radiated through day hours off the earth collects aloft； is a fact well known to the balloonist； and Mr。 Glaisher carried out with considerable success a well…arranged programme for investigating the facts of the case。 Starting from Windsor on an afternoon of late May； he so arranged matters that his departure from earth took place about an hour and three quarters before sunset； his intention being to rise to a definite height； and with as uniform a speed as possible to time his descent so as to reach earth at the moment of sundown； and then to re…ascend and descend again m a precisely similar manner during an hour and three…quarters after sunset； taking observations all the way。 Ascending for the first flight； he left a temperature of 58 degrees on the earth； and found it 55 degrees at 1；200 feet； then 43 degrees at 3；600 feet； and 29 1/2 degrees at the culminating point of 6；200 feet。 Then； during the descent； the temperature increased； though not uniformly； till he was nearly brushing the tops of the trees； where it was some 3 degrees colder than at starting。
It was now that the balloon； showing a little waywardness； slightly upset a portion of the experiment； for； instead of getting to the neighbourhood of earth just at the moment of sunset； the travellers found themselves at that epoch 600 feet above the ground； and over the ridge of a hill； on passing which the balloon became sucked down with a down draught； necessitating a liberal discharge of sand to prevent contact with the ground。 This circumstance； slight in itself； caused the lowest point of the descent to be reached some minutes late； and； still more unfortunate； occasioned the ascent which immediately followed to be a rapid one； too rapid； doubtless； to give the registering instruments a fair chance； but one principal record aimed at was obtained at least with sufficient truth； namely； that at the culminating point； which again was 6；200 feet； the temperature read 35 degrees； or about 6 degrees warmer than when the balloon was at the same altitude a little more than an hour before。 This comparatively warm temperature was practically maintained for a considerable portion of the descent。
We may summarise the principal of Mr。 Glaisher's generalisations thus； using as nearly as possible his own words：
〃The decrease of temperature； with increase of elevation； has a diurnal range； and depends upon the hour of the day； the changes being the greatest at mid…day and the early part of the afternoon； and decreasing to about sunset； when； with a clear sky； there is little or no change of temperature for several hundred feet from the earth； whilst； with a cloudy sky； the change decreases from the mid…day hours at a less rapid rate to about sunset； when the decrease is nearly uniform and at the rate of 1 degree in 2；000 feet。
〃Air currents differing in direction are almost always to be met with。 The thicknesses of these were found to vary greatly。 The direction of the wind on the earth was sometimes that of the whole mass of air up to 20；000 feet nearly； whilst at other times the direction changed within 500 feet of the earth Sometimes directly opposite currents were met with。〃
With regard to the velocity of upper currents； as shown by the travel of balloons； when the distances between the places of ascent and descent are measured； it was always found that these distances were very much greater than the horizontal movement of the air； as measured by anemometers near the ground。
CHAPTER XVI。 SOME FAMOUS FRENCH AERONAUTS。
By this period a revival of aeronautics in the land of its birth had fairly set in。 Since the last ascents of Gay Lussac； in 1804； already recorded； there had been a lull in ballooning enterprise in France； and no serious scientific expeditions are recorded until the year 1850； when MM。 Baral and Bixio undertook some investigations respecting the upper air； which were to deal with its laws of temperature and humidity； with the proportion of carbonic acid present in it； with solar heat at different altitudes； with radiation and the polarisation of light； and certain other interesting enquiries。
The first ascent； made in June from the Paris Observatory； though a lofty one； was attended with so much danger and confusion as to be barren of results。 The departure； owing to stormy weather； was hurried and illordered； so that the velocity in rising was excessive； the net constricted the rapidly…swelling globe； and the volumes of out…rushing gas half…suffocated the voyagers。 Then a large rent occurred； which caused an alarmingly rapid fall； and the two philosophers were reduced to the necessity of flinging away all they possessed； their instruments only excepted。 The landing； in a vineyard； was happily not attended with disaster； and within a month the same two colleagues attempted a second aerial excursion； again in wet weather。
It would seem as if on this occasion； as on the former one； there was some lack of due management； for the car； suspended at a long distance from the balloon proper； acquired violent oscillations on leaving the ground； and dashing first against a tree； and then against a mast； broke some of the instruments。 A little later there occurred a repetition on a minor scale of the aeronauts' previous mishap； for a rent appeared in the silk； though； luckily； so low down in the balloon as to be of small consequence； and eventually an altitude of some 19；000 feet was attained。 At one time needles of ice were encountered settling abundantly with a crackling sound upon their notebooks。 But the most remarkable observation made during this voyage related to an extraordinary fall of temperature which； as recorded； is without parallel。 It took place in a cloud mass； 15；000 feet thick； and amounted to a drop of from 15 degrees to …39 degrees。
In 1867 M。 C。 Flammarion made a few balloon ascents； ostensibly for scientific research。 His account of these； translated by Dr。 T。 L。 Phipson； is edited by Mr。 Glaisher； and many of the experiences he relates will be
