OTE se as to the times of arrival of thunderstorms conditions. He had found, as in the case of these Ohio thunderstorms, the occurrence of several moving fronts at once. Professor H. J. Cox asked if individual storms could be followed for any appreciable distance. Mr. Brooks replied that the observers were generally too scattered and the data in insufficient detail to allow this. There were, however, numerous instances in which single large storms were followed for an hour and a half. Professor C. F. Marvin said that there was an impression that more i could be done in a detailed study of thunderstorms than is at present practicable. The problem is a gigantic one. To apply thunderstorm observations to detailed local forecasts would require an enormous amount of work and telegraphic expense. Mr. C. J. Root asked if Mr. Alexander knew of the geographic distribution of the lightning losses cited. Mr. Alexander replied that he did not have this, but that it could be obtained from the underwriters. Prof. H. J. Cox asked if there was any record of damage to skyscrapers by lightning. Mr. Alexander knew of none. Free-Ballooning in the Interests of Meteorology C. LEROY MEISINGER, U. S. Weather Bureau. Unless prevented by unforeseen obstacles of an administrative character, the Weather Bureau, in co-operation with the Army Air Service, plans to make in the early spring a series of approximately fifteen freeballoon flights for meteorological purposes. It is hoped, by these flights, (1) to obtain approximate trajectories of moving air over the earth's surface at various free-air levels; (2) to obtain data on the structure of wind streams in and about cyclones and anticyclones; (3) to take counts of dust particle at various elevations; (4) to measure the brightness of the sky at various elevations; and, (5) to obtain data on the size of water droplets in clouds by means of measurements of the angular diameter of coronae formed about a suitably exposed small electric light. The flights will probably be made from Scott Field, Belleville, Ill., and the balloon used will be the 35,000 cu. ft. spherical balloon commonly used for training purposes. (Author's abstract.) Discussion: Mr. W. R. Gregg expressed much interest in this project. He said that as there is a great deal about the upper air that we do not yet know, it is important that we adopt any means presented for increasing our knowledge. The best way would be to take a particle of air and trace its course. At present a free balloon at constant altitude comes nearest to representing such a particle of air. Dr. W. J. Humphreys suggested that if temperatures should be low enough the liquid or solid states of cloud particles at temperatures below freezing could be carefully noted. Professor W. I. Milham remarked that surface air currents were being studied in detail in east central New York. During the coming summer in a zone 20 miles wide, from Poughkeepsie to Lake Champlain a Gypsy Moth dead belt will be established. From five stations thousands of balloons will be released, so inflated as not to rise over 800 feet. By this means it is hoped to learn much about the surface air currents in these regions. Relations Between Free-Air Temperatures and Wind Directions By W. R. GREGG. All available data from kite flights made during the period 1915 to 1922 inclusive have been considered. The investigation has been pursued along the following lines: (1) The temperatures at different heights have been classified according to surface wind directions; (2) the temperatures at three kilometers have been classified according to wind direction at that level; and (3) changes in temperature at three kilometers, as observed during series of successive kite flights extending over periods of several hours, have been examined individually in connection with the wind direction or with changes in the wind direction. It is found that in a large majority of cases the relation between temperatures and wind directions is direct and appreciable, south component winds being considerably warmer than north component winds at all levels in the troposphere; that the relation is more pronounced at one and two kilometers than it is at greater heights or at the surface; and that exceptions are due either to a temporary reversal in the latitudinal distribution of temperature or to the fact that the wind direction in some instances does not represent the true source of the air, the latter having followed a curved path around a High or Low. (Author's abstract.) Free-Air Pressure Reductions in the Plateau Region of the United States G. LEROY MEISINGER, U. S. Weather Bureau. Without entering into the rather well-known difficulties in the practice of sea-level reduction in the elevated regions of western United States, it was pointed out that reductions to levels approximately equal to the average elevation would not only be more satisfactorily representative of weather conditions occurring there, but could be accomplished with a rather small error for selected stations (those lying between one and two kilometers above sea-level) by means of the current station temperature as the temperature argument. Using this means of reducing pressure the levels one and two kilometers above sea-level, pressures at levels three and four kilometers above sea-level can be computed quite satisfactorily by means of an equation recently developed from aerological observations in the eastern United States. This equation is simplified for use in the Plateau Region by the assumption of an isothermal stratum between one and two kilometers above sea-level. (Author's abstract.) Discussion: to Prof. C. F. Marvin: "I cannot permit the shortness of time and the late hour to prevent me from saying that I regard this whole system of free-air pressure reductions of Dr. Meisinger as an unique epoch-marking piece of barometric hypsometry. I have followed his work from the very beginning with deep interest. Just what use may be made of the free-air maps remains to be developed, but the work of reductions is worthy of special note." The following papers were read by title: Adjusting Rain Insurance Policies by Amount and Duration of Rainfall. Harold Yost. (See Feb. BULLETIN, pp. 17-19.) The Present Status of our Knowledge Regarding Variability of Precipitation in California. B. M. Varney, Clark University, Worcester, Mass. The Brightness of Lunar Eclipses, 1860-1922; an attempt to use the eclipsed moon as an aerological indicator. W. J. Fisher, Cambridge, Bt Mass. Capt. Bassler, The Weatherman of Cincinnati. W. H. Schloemer. ate eaux. ere: re pr Resolutions The Committee on Resolutions then reported through Mr. M. W. Hayes. The resolution regarding Scientific Congresses, Conventions and Meetings, adopted by the Washington Academy of Sciences was favorably reported upon. After reading it a motion was passed by the meeting favoring the sentiments expressed in this resolution, and the Secretary was directed thereby, to send communications to this effect to the several parties mentioned in the resolution. Another resolution proposed by the committee and adopted was as follows: Whereas: The University of Cincinnati, the local Committee of Arrangements, the Chamber of Commerce, the officers of the Union Central Life Insurance Company, and Mr. W. C. Devereaux, of the local office of the Weather Bureau have made most satisfactory arrangements for the convenience, comfort and entertainment of the American Meteorological Society and have thereby made possible a most successful meeting, Therefore, be it resolved that the Secretary be instructed to write I letters to each of the aforementioned, expressing appreciation for their 1 untiring efforts in behalf of the Society. Secretary's and Treasurer's Expenses Bulletin-Printing and Mailing, Oct., Nov., and Dec. issues.. $96.40 287.85 Binders for Bulletin 3.06 $530.61 Balance in bank, Jan. 31, 1924, including $55.75 from last year $903.97 BIRDS FALL VICTIMS OF THE MILD WINTER In a summary of early Winter bird movements in New England, Edward Howe Forbush, director of the Division of Ornithology of the Massachusetts State Department of Agriculture, says: "The Summer and Fall were so remarkably dry that many fruits and seeds failed to develop, and there is a widespread dearth of food for birds in the north. All through Northern New England and much of the inhabitated part of the Eastern Provinces of Canada there are few acorns or nuts and comparatively little wild fruit. "There was so little rainfall in the breeding season that there was no water in the swamps, and many of the trout brooks ran dry. Shallow ponds where ducks feed dried up. Low water about the shallow margins of larger ponds decreased the supply of food for fresh water fowl, so that comparatively few young ducks were raised. "The season has been so mild that very little has been heard of the Arctic gulls. Ducks and geese have remained in the north longer than usual. Whenever a sudden frost has closed the small ponds many ducks and geese instead of going south, have gone to the open waters along the coast of Labrador, the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the St. Lawrence River and Lake Champlain, coming back to the ponds again when milder weather melted the ice. The greatest goose migration of the season came along the Massachusetts coast in Christmas week. "Chickadees seem to be the most common and widely distributed birds of the month. A few remain as far north as Vilmontel, Quebec, only 150 miles from James Bay. Land birds generally are scarce this Winter, as there is not food enough to hold them."-New York Times, Jan. 20, 1924. It was reported today by farmers who own large orchards in northern Worcester County, (Mass.), that the recent snow fall has driven out of the woods pheasants and partridges, and they are doing much damage to trees by eating the buds, a further evidence of the lack of food for wild game.-Worcester Telegram, Feb. 10, 1924. CO-OPERATIVE OBSERVERS' DEPARTMENT I would strongly urge all Co-operative Observers to obtain at least one self-recording instrument. For several years I have had a thermograph in the shelter and it had greatly increased the interest in the rise and fall of temperature. I have also had a barograph in use for twelve years, and I can assure those who have had no experience with such instruments that they will add a new interest to the daily meteorological round. It is impossible to ascertain the tendency of the temperature, whether it is rising or falling or steady, from the mercurial thermometer, and the same applies to the barograph compared with the mercurial barometer. To be sure these instruments are somewhat costly, but with normal care they will last a long time. Charts can be procured from the Weather Bureau at Washington for a nominal charge. Self-recording instruments are not as accurate as mercurial. From time to time they require slight adjustments. For 1922 the difference between my thermograph and mercurial thermometer was 1.2 degrees. Each week I check off the readings of the thermograph chart with those of the maximum and minimum thermometers and keep a record of them in a separate book.-Charles Decker, Co-operative Observer, Narberth, Pa. |