Practical Exercises in Elementary MeteorologyWard, Robert DeCourcy
Science
Practical Exercises in Elementary Meteorology
Ward, Robert DeCourcy
Meteorology
It is interesting to note that the discussion as to whether the winds blow
circularly around, or radially in towards, centers of low pressure, which
usually comes up in every class in meteorology at some stage in the study,
was carried on in a very animated way about the middle of the present
century in this country. Two noted American meteorologists, Redfield and
Espy, and their respective followers, took opposite sides in this
controversy, Redfield maintaining at the start that the winds moved in
circles, and Espy maintaining that they followed radial courses. The truth
lay between the two.
CHAPTER VII.
The study of atmospheric pressure is not easy, because the pupils cannot
perceive the changes in pressure from day to day by their unaided senses.
Especially difficult does this study become if the class has not already
had some practice in making barometer readings. When this observational
work has not preceded the consideration of the isobaric lines of the daily
weather maps, the teacher should introduce the subject of pressure very
carefully. The experiment with the Torricellian tube will show the class
something of the reality of atmospheric pressure, and the variations in
this pressure from day to day can readily be made apparent by means of a
few barometer readings, if time cannot be spared for a regular and
continued series of barometer observations. A word may be said as to the
correction of barometric readings for local influences, in order to make
these readings comparable, if this matter has not been previously met
with, but care should be taken not to confuse the younger pupils too much
with explanations at this stage of the work. It may be well to omit this
point unless it is brought up by some pupil. The questions asked in the
text are merely suggestive. They may be added to and varied at the
discretion of the teacher.
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