Miamata. Regular (horary) changes in the pressure of the atmosphere. Mean
barometrical height at the level of the sea in different zones of the earth.
Isobarometrical curves. Barometrical windroses. Law of rotation of the
winds, and its importance with reference to the knowledge of many
meteorological processes. Land and sea winds, trade winds and monsoons --
p. 311-317. Climatic distribution of heat in the atmosphere, as the effect
of the relative position of transparent and opaque masses (fluid and solid
superficial area), and of the hypsometrical configuration of continents.
Curvature of the isothermal lines in a horizontal and vertical direction, on
the earth's surface and in the superimposed strata of air. Convexity and
concavity of the isothermal lines. Mean heat of the year, seasons, months,
and days. Enumeration of the causes which produce disturbances in the form
of isothermal lines, i.e., their deviation from the position of the
geographical parallels. Isochimenal and isotheral lines are the lines of
equal winter and summer heat. Causes which raise or lower the temperature.
Radiation of the earth's surface, according to its inclination, color,
density, dryness, and chemical composition. The form of the cloud which
announces what is passing in the upper strata of the atmosphere is the image
of the strongly radiating ground projected on a hot summer sky. Contrast
between an insular or littoral climate, such as is experienced by all
deeply-articulated continents, and the climate of the interior of large
tracts of land. East and west coasts. Difference between the southern and
northern hemispheres. Thermal scales of
p 22
cultivated plants, going down from the vanilla, cacoa, and musaceae, by
citrous and olives, and to vines yielding potable wines. The influence
which these scales exercise on the geographical distribution of cultivated
plants. The favorable ripening and the immaturity of fruits are essentially
influenced by the difference in the action of direct or scattered light in a
clear sky or in one overcast with mist. General summary of the causes which