PREFACE. THIS little work has been put together in the endeavour to supply a want which has been expressed in many quarters that of an explanation of the weather charts which appear in the newspapers, and of the remarks which are appended to them. The conceptions and principles on which the science of weather study is based are apparently quite new to the majority of ordinary readers, who still hold to the belief that the barometer rises or falls in direct relation to the weather, without any attempt to consider how or why it does so. It is hoped that the following pages may convey some idea, however imperfect, of the present state of Weather Knowledge, as distinguished from the science of Meteorology itself, of which this book makes no claim to be called a manual. With a very few exceptions, theories of the causes of storms have been left unnoticed, as the object has been to explain to the reader what he can learn from a careful study of the information published in the newspapers or in the daily weather reports, and therefore accessible to all. In treating of a science now in process of rapid development, it can only be expected that every year will add to our knowledge, and that many of the principles stated in these pages will be extended or modified by the results of subsequent experience. All that it is here attempted to give to the public is an account of the actual state of our knowledge at present. I must express my sincere thanks to several friends who have aided me with their advice during the preparation of the book, and most notably to Mr. Frederic Gaster, of this Office. The illustrations which are contained in the text have all been executed by the Patent Type Founding Company, by the same process as they employ for the production of charts for newspapers. ROBERT H. SCOTT. METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE: June 10, 1876. |