Project Gutenberg's Atlantic Monthly Vol. 6, No. 33, July, 1860, by Various

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: Atlantic Monthly Vol. 6, No. 33, July, 1860

Author: Various

Release Date: March 17, 2004 [EBook #11604]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ATLANTIC MONTHLY ***

Produced by Joshua Hutchinson, Judith B. Glad and PG Distributed
Proofreaders

THE

ATLANTIC MONTHLY.

A MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE, ART, AND POLITICS.

* * * * *

VOL. VI.--JULY, 1860.--NO. XXXIII.

* * * * *

METEOROLOGY.

A GLANCE AT THE SCIENCE.

The purpose of this article is to present, in a brief and
simple manner, the leading principles on which the science of
Meteorology is founded,--rather, however, in the spirit of an
inquirer than of a teacher. For, notwithstanding the rapid
progress it has made within the last thirty years, it is far
from having the authority of an exact science; many of its
phenomena are as yet inexplicable, and many differences of
opinion among the learned remain unreconciled on points at first
sight apparently easy to be settled.

Meteorology has advanced very far beyond its original limits.
Spherical vapor and atmospheric space give but a faint idea of its
range. We find it a leading science in Physics, and having intimate
relations with heat, light, electricity, magnetism, winds, water,
vegetation, geological changes, optical effects, pneumatics,
geography,--and with climate, controlling the pursuits and
affecting the character of the human race. It is so intimately
blended, indeed, with the other matters here named, as scarcely to
have any positive boundary of its own; and its vista seems ever
lengthening, as we proceed.

Without dwelling upon the numerous consequences which flow from
meteorological influences, let us see what is properly included under
the subject of Meteorology. And first, of the Atmosphere.

This is a gaseous, vapor-bearing, elastic fluid, surrounding the
earth. Its volume is estimated at 1/29th, and its weight at about
43/1000ths, that of the globe. It is composed of 21 parts in weight
of Oxygen and 77 of Nitroge