Expeditions organized or participated in by the Smithsonian . ectly estimate the losses of radia-tion in the earths atmosphere, it was felt desirable to check the resultby sending up self-registering apparatus attached to free balloonsto the highest possible altitudes. This work was undertaken by Mr. Aldrich in July in coo]Xrationwith the United States Weather liureau. were sent u]) onfive days from Santa Catalina Island, carrying in each instance a self-registering pyrheliometer devised and tested at the SmithsonianAstroi^hysical Observatory, and a self-registering app
Expeditions organized or participated in by the Smithsonian . ectly estimate the losses of radia-tion in the earths atmosphere, it was felt desirable to check the resultby sending up self-registering apparatus attached to free balloonsto the highest possible altitudes. This work was undertaken by Mr. Aldrich in July in coo]Xrationwith the United States Weather liureau. were sent u]) onfive days from Santa Catalina Island, carrying in each instance a self-registering pyrheliometer devised and tested at the SmithsonianAstroi^hysical Observatory, and a self-registering apparatus of theWeather lUireau, wdiich records the temperature, pressure, andhumidity of the atmosphere. SMITHSOXIAX EXPLORATIONS. I9I3 «7 All the balloons carrying ])_\rhfliometers were fortunatelv re-covered, and in one instance the flight reached the altitude of meters, or feet. The registering pyrheliometers be-haved verv well with the exception that their temperature sunk lowerthan was expected, so that in each case the mercitrv in the stem of the. Fig. 86.—Observing station of Astrophysical Observatoryon Mount Wilson with new tower telescope. Photograph liyAbl)ott. thermometers was frozen at an altitude of from 40 to 50 thousandfeet, and therefore their records did not extend as high as the flightsof the balloons. Nevertheless these measurements are obtained ataltitudes above the highest clouds, and where the water-vapor anddust of the atmosphere is almost inappreciable. The results reacheddo not differ from what would be expected in view of the value of 88 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 63 the intensity of the solar radiation outside the atmosphere, as com-puted from the ordinary measurements of the Astrophysical Observ-atory. It is expected that the observations will be repeated withimproved apparatus in the year 1914. After the arrival of Mr. Abbot, the new tower telescope was com-pleted and prepared for observations of the distribution
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectscienti, bookyear1912
