Forecasting Weather

Abstract

THE text-book on “Weather” published by the A late Hon. Ralph Abercromby in 1885 generalised the practice in forecasting which had gradually established itself in the Meteorological Office. The recognition in that book of types of pressure distribution associated with distinctive characteristics of wind, temperature, and rain, gave definiteness to the conceptions of cyclones, anticyclones, wedges, and V-depressions, and impressed on the minds of the last generation the dominance of atmospheric pressure over all atmospheric changes. Abercromby wrote with the enthusiasm of lively faith. He believed in cyclones and anticyclones as powers which made the weather-great, simple, and straightforward entities, the ways of which were almost fully known, and only a little additional knowledge required to make the prediction of weather definite and precise.

Forecasting Weather.

By Dr. W. N. Shaw. Fully illustrated with maps, charts, and diagrams. Pp. xxviii + 380. (London: Constable and Company, Ltd., 1911.) Price 12s. 6d. net.