e ONT "Leading meteorologists claim that the position and intensity of the Pacific high pressure areas affect the ensuing rainy season, and that our precipitation is markedly affected by its location north or south of the normal, for it controls the movements of the low pressure or rain bearing areas. "The author asserts that when low pressure areas enter directly off the central to southern California coast in September or October there is a 90 per cent probability that the ensuing season will be an average to wet one. The lower down the coast the lows enter, the heavier will the precipitation be for southern California for the ensuing season." dedi A discussion of the paper was opened by DR. A. V. STOUGHTON, Pomona, Cal., a visitor at the meeting, with an inquiry as to the effect of ocean temperatures off the California coast on later weather condi tions in that state, with particular reference to precipitation. MR. BLOCHMAN replied that in his opinion observations of this character have not been made for a sufficiently long period to definitely determine the relation. MR. DEAN BLAKE stated that the investigations of Dr. George F. McEwen seem to show that there is such a relation, as indicated by the records of the past five or six years. Grassland as a Source of Rainfall By F. E. CLEMENTS The Chairman then announced that Dr. F. E. Clements, of Arizona, who was scheduled to present a paper on "Grassland as a Source of Rainfall," was unable to be present, but had forwarded the paper, which would be read by the Secretary. An abstract follows: "The fact that a plant may transpire more water than a water body of equal surface evaporates led to experiments to measure the transpiration of representative prairie communities. This was done by incasing sods in 3-foot cylinders without disturbing the roots and weighing these at the desired intervals in the true prairie, mixed prairie, and short grass plains, with annual mean rainfall respectively of 28, 23, and 17 inches. It was found that the transpiration in each community was more than sufficient to provide its precipitation during a year. "The cereal crops were found to transpire at about the same rate as the native grasses, while alfalfa lost somewhat more water. The water 1 loss from the native wheat-grass nearly equalled that from millet, while at Phillipsburg the loss from grama and from oats was the same, with bluestem transpiring nearly twice as much. The loss from alfalfa at Lincoln was about a third greater than that from bluestem. The results explain why ordinary settlement and cultivation have not increased rainfall, but suggest that afforestation over wide stretches would do so. " The Chairman commented on the value of such experiments as Dr. Clements has made and suggested that their meteorological aspect is of great importance. MAJOR EDWARD H. BOWIE, District Forecaster, U. S. Weather Bureau, San Francisco, stated that in his opinion the amount of precipitation derived from plants is very slight. DR. MARSDEN MANSON, in discussing briefly the process of evaporation, stated that he questioned the results of evaporation studies over ocean surfaces because of the methods that must of necessity be employed. Atmosphere and Man By C. M. RICHTER, San Francisco, Cal. The Chairman then introduced Dr. C. M. Richter, San Francisco, who read a paper on "Atmosphere and Man." The author's abstract follows: "Reasons are given for new air analyses, as the composition of the air we breathe during cyclonic weather naturally must differ from that during anticyclonic weather. "This change of composition of the air, together with all the meteorological factors, produces a group effect on man, which is typical of one or the other weather type. "The most important result of such influence of a particular group effect on the human organism is an alteration of the blood, which differs more or less in different persons, but which represents the most consequential effect of weather on man.' MR. C. B. LASTRETO opened the discussion of this paper, and stated that Dr. Richter appears to attribute undue physiological effects to a state of or change in atmospheric pressure. He said: "Consider the great number of persons that in their accustomed activities travel up and down in skyscrapers, from valleys to high hills, and thus subject themselves to changes in pressure that may be greater than the maximum changes under consideration. Except to the few who are sensitive to high altitudes, no such effects as noted are observed. Presumably a refuge might be sought from the cause of the ill effects of atmospheric pressure by going up or down a neighboring hill. I believe that in the supposed case the personal conditions would persevere, because of the probability that it was the effect of the other accompanying weather factors relative humidity and wind, static, or the injection of the nitrous oxide cited by Dr. Richter. In other words, to cause changes in the endosmose or oxidation of the liquids of the body would require greater changes than those recorded within the supposed maxima he has in mind.' DR. MARSDEN MANSON, in commenting on this paper, said: "In the early eighties, Mr. Julian LeConte made studies of the effect of the passage of areas of high pressure and the accompanying phenomena of heat, lack of moisture, etc. The result was to show that men and animals, particularly horses, were more irritable during such periods, and runaways were more frequent. "The dryness and electrical condition of the air also made accidents in powder factories more frequent." Some Features of the Climate of Alaska By M. B. SUMMERS, U. S. Weather Bureau, Seattle, Wash. The next number on the program was a paper on "Some Features of the Climate of Alaska," by M. B. Summers, Meteorologist, U. S. Weather Bureau, Seattle, Wash. The author submitted the following abstract: "Features of the climate of Alaska are the great extremes of temperature and precipitation. Tropical temperatures in summer and extreme cold in winter are recorded in the interior valleys, while the precipitation of the southeastern portion exceeds in both quantity and frequency that which has been recorded in any part of continental United States. "Studies in the variability of the mean temperature and total precipitation for periods of 12 consecutive months, disregarding the calendar year, show the maximum and minimum departures from the normal for such selected periods to be similar to those at Bismarck, N. Dak., for the interior valleys of the Territory, and to those at Seattle, for the southeastern portion. "The economic development that has already taken place in Alaska has been achieved largely through the aid of the prevailing climatic conditions, rather than in spite of them, as is sometimes contended." In the discussion that followed, MR. SUMMERS stated, in response to an inquiry from the Chairman, that observations of weather conditions are now being made at about 75 places in the Territory, and that 15 of these are special meteorological stations, equipped with mercurial barometers, barographs, and in a number of cases with thermographs and wind registering instruments, also. The maintenance of these stations is difficult in many cases, Mr. Summers said, because of the sparse and transient character of the population and the lack of proper transportation. Sufficient climatic data have been obtained, however, to make it unnecessary for any one to visit or settle in any part of Alaska in ignorance of the climatic conditions that are likely to be encountered. MR. MANSON wished to know the relation between the occurrence of precipitation in southeastern Alaska and in the north Pacific states. Mr. Summers replied that he had made no study of this relation. MAJOR BOWIE stated that in general the precipitation in both these districts should be dependent to a great extent on the location of the north Pacific storm tarck; if this be far to the southward the southeastern portion of the Territory should receive but little precipitation, but precipitation should be general in the north Pacific states; if the track of the Lows is far to the northward, precipitation should be general in southeastern Alaska, with but little in the north Pacific states. MR. SUMMERS stated that it has been his observation that the most general precipitation in southeastern Alaska occurs when the Gulf of Alaska Low is arrested in its southeastward movement by the building up of high pressure over Washington and Oregon and is thus forced to take a retrograde movement to the northwestward. The Chairman asked what stations are maintained by the Canadian Government in the region contiguous to Alaska, to which reply was made that special meteorological stations are maintained at Dawson, Atlin and Prince Rupert, daily reports of pressure and other elements being telegraphed. Other data are being recorded at White Horse, and at a few stations in the McKenzie River Basin. MAJOR BOWIE stated that the Dominion Government has in prospect the establishment of radio stations during the present summer at two or three places in the McKenzie Basin, and that with these facilities for communication weather reports will be available daily and will be a valuable aid in forecasting. Dr. C. LeRoy Meisinger At this juncture MAJOR BOWIE called the attention of the members of the Society to the untimely death, on June 2, of Dr. Clarence LeRoy Meisinger, and asked leave to present the following resolution: "Whereas, recently, in the line of duty and in an earnest effort to learn the secrets of the air and its ways, Dr. Clarence LeRoy Meisinger, a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society, lost his life and Meteorology one of its most worthy followers. "Therefore, be it resolved by the members of the American Meteorological Society, assembled at Leland Stanford University, June 26, 1924, that they do express their personal feeling of loss by reason of his untimely death, and their admiration of his efforts to contribute to our knowledge of Meteorology; and, be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be incorporated in the minutes of the proceedings of this meeting, published in the journal of the Society, and that a copy be sent to his nearest relative, that it may be known in what esteem he was held by members of the American Meteorological Society." Out of respect to the memory of the departed, the members of the Society stood in solemn attention while the resolution was being read. It was unanimously adopted. Apropos of the death of Dr. Meisinger, the Chairman requested the Secretary to read a communication dated June 6, 1924, from Dr. Charles F. Brooks, Secretary of the American Meteorological Society. It follows: "To the Members of the Council: "While I am sure that Dr. Meisinger's uncompleted research will be brought to a proper conclusion, it occurs to me that we should take some active steps to induce other promising young men to equip themselves adequately for the type of research Dr. Meisinger was able to carry on. To this end I would propose forming a C. LeRoy Meisinger Aerological Research Fund of $2,000 or more, the income from which shall be used for scholarships or in some other way to aid in the production of research meteorologists. Such a scholarship could be awarded in any institution, and in different institutions from year to year, depending on where a graduate student training for a meteorological research career might be enrolled. The most likely place is, of course, Washing ton, D. C., where some young man in the Aerological Division, already equipped by experience in obtaining aerological data, might go on with his studies in George Washington University and obtain the Doctor's degree as Meisinger did. A scholarship for such a promising candidate could be offered in George Washington University for 1924-25. "I feel that whatever fund is created should be as free of restrictions as possible, so that the Council from time to time could use the income in such a way as to be of the greatest help in furthering research. Some years the income might be applied better as a grant for a particular research than as a scholarship. In other years the income might be allowed to accumulate to provide for a larger scholarship later. Still another possibility would be the offering of a prize or prizes for the best work in certain phases of aerological research. Whoever gets the earliest grants or scholarships from this fund should be encouraged, I think, to investigate the physical conditions which make thunderstorms in low pressure areas. I make this suggestion because it was an unexpected nocturnal thunderstorm in a Low that Meisinger met his death. "If the formation of such a fund appears desirable to the Council, I will contribute $100 toward it, and for the year 1924-25, if the income from such a fund were not $100, I would add enough to make a scholarship or scholarships totalling $100, to be awarded a graduate student or students in George Washington University whom Dr. Humphreys would recommend. "Sincerely yours, (Signed) CHARLES F. BROOKS." After a short discussion, MAJOR BOWIE introduced the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted: "Resolved that this meeting approve the project set forth in Dr. Brooks' letter of June 6, 1924, which has just been read in our hearing, concerning the creation of a Meisinger Aerological Research Fund and its purposes; that we recommend its publication in the journal, and that a call for contributions be made through the journal of this Society; and that we hereby express our thanks to Dr. Brooks for taking the initiative in this matter." (Minutes of this meeting to be concluded in the next issue BRITISH ASSOCIATION MEETING AT TORONTO Through the courtesy of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, all members of the American Meteorological Society have been sent copies of the preliminary program and other notices of the forthcoming, notable, international, scientific meeting at Toronto. J. Patterson, M.A., of the Meteorological Office, Toronto, writes that Sir Napier Shaw is giving a paper on the subject, "If the Earth Went Dry," Prof. V. Bjerknes is giving a lecture before the International Mathematical Congress on the mathematical side of his special work, and Prof. C. Störmer, on his work on the aurora. These papers should be of special interest to meteorologists, but in addition there are a number of papers from others from Europe and our side of the water, including Prof. Marvin, Dr. Humphreys and others. Mr. Patterson hopes there will be a goodly assembly of meteorologists as it will be such an excellent opportunity to meet the leading men from the other side. NEW BRAZILIAN MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW The Brazilian Meteorological Service under its energetic director, Dr. Sampaio Ferraz, has just begun to issue a monthly weather bulletin: DIRECTORIA DE METEOROLOGIA Rio de Janeiro, May 17, 1924. The Directoria de Meteorologia has much pleasure in distributing the first number of its monthly bulletin. Considering the enormous extension of the country and the consequent difficulties of obtaining rapid communication, this publication is organized with a fortnight's delay which can hardly be reduced. The Directoria will do its best to increase the information given, when possible. The publication is made according to a recommendation passed in the last Meteorological Congress of Utrecht. SAMPAIO FERRAZ, Director. The April number is the first. It is a quarto publication of five pages, containing the following information: summary of the atmospheric circulation in the south and center of the country; synopsis of the weather occurring in the Federal District; synopsis of the rainfall of the country during April, 1924, (by three zones, also special mention of dry and |