Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Volume 1Smithsonian Institution, 1862 - Science |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
11 Midn added applied April ature of Air Barom Barometer in English barometric pressure capillary action Centig Centimetres computed correction Cubic Foot Dail.ext Degrees of Fahrenheit Degrees of Reaumur derived from Series Dew-Point Difference of Wet Dry-Bulb elastic force Eng.Feet English feet English Inches Fahr Fahren Fahrenheit Force of Hu Force of tive Force of Vapor formula freezing point Greenw heit Hours of Observation July June Laplace's formula latitude lower station March Mean Horizontal Difference Means derived Means of Single mercury meteorological Metres Millim Millimetres Monthly and Yearly Months numbers without sign Observation to obtain obtain the true Par.lines Paris Lines psychrometer Reducing the Monthly Regnault's Relative Humidity respective Days saturation scale Sept sign-must be subtracted Table Temper Tenths of Degrees thermometer tion tive Force tive Rela Toises true Mean Temperatures tube Weight of Vapor Yearly Means
Popular passages
Page 73 - From the foregoing statements it may be safely inferred that " the mean height of the barometer at the level of the sea being the same in every part of the globe...
Page 138 - Daniell's hygrometer, taken at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, from the year 1841 to 1854, with some observations, taken at high temperatures in India, and others taken at low and medium temperatures at Toronto. The results at the same temperatures were found to be alike at these different places; and, therefore, the factors may be considered as of general application.
Page 23 - The observation of the vane requires more care than is usually given. In winds of considerable strength the vane is never at rest, or fixed in the same direction; it oscillates incessantly, and its oscillations increase in extent with certain winds and with the violence of the wind. In such cases observers must note the mean direction 'between the extremes. When the wind is too light to move the vane, and when it is calm, no direction will be...
Page 62 - General flowering of the species. 5 ( 63 ) 3. Fructification. — When the pericarp splits spontaneously in dehiscent fruits, or the indehiscent fruit is fully ripe. 4. Fall of leaf. — When the leaves have nearly all fallen. The dates of these various periods should be inserted in their appropriate columns. When the observations for the year are complete, they should be returned to the Institution, with the locality and observer's name inserted in the blank at the head of the sheet. PLANTS.
Page 97 - In the first two columns, at the left, are found the indications, in degrees of Fahrenheit, of the dry and wet bulb thermometers. In the following columns, in their order, and opposite to each of the temperatures of the wet thermometer, are given the temperature of the dew-point ; the force of vapor, in English inches ; the weight of vapor, in grains, contained in a cubic foot of air ; the amount of the same required for saturation ; and the relative humidity in thousandths, corresponding to the...
Page 9 - Observation. — The different operations of the barometer of constant level should be made in the following order : — a. Before all, incline the instrument gently, so as to render the mercurial column very movable ; then, after having restored it to rest, strike several slight blows upon the casing, in such a manner as to impress on the mercury gentle vibrations. The adherence of the mercury to the glass will thus be destroyed, and the column will take its true equilibrium.
Page 14 - Fig. 8 we see that the height falls between 30 inches and inches; no line of the vernier coincides exactly; but the line 7 is a little above, the line 8 is a little below, one of the lines of the scale; the fraction falls, then, between seven and eight hundredths. Estimating in tenths the distance the .vernier passes over between the coincidence of 7 and that of 8, the tenths of a hundredth, or the thousandths are obtained.
Page 61 - ... common use ; but when the former are unknown, the latter may alone be given. It is in contemplation to use the information thus gathered, in deducing general laws relating to the geographical distribution of species of the animal and vegetable kingdoms of North America. Any specimens of natural history will also be acceptable. Directions for their preservation have been published by the Institution, and will be sent to all who may wish them. The points in the phenomena of plants, to which attention...
Page 43 - ... signify a calm, or that there is no perceptible motion. (This is the correct use). (b) Used to signify that the sky is clear, instead of inserting it in the proper column. (f) Used to signify that no observation was taken. (d) Used to signify that the direction in which the upper current was moving could not be determined on account of the sky being either perfectly clear or entirely overcast. The first (a) is the correct use. 7. Want of full and proper records of the direction of the wind, some...
Page 41 - ... want of perfect uniformity in noting the phenomena. To insure uniformity in the records, attention is called to the following remarks. 1. Failure to record latitude and longitude, name and station of the observer, and date on each sheet, the observer probably supposing it sufficient to insert them once on the first sheet sent, and so omitting them afterwards. This often renders it necessary to search back through all the series of registers to some one that contained them — perhaps in a former...