Abstract
SCIENCE for March 19 has an article by Prof. Alexander McAdie, of Blue Hill Observatory, on “The Attainment of High Levels in the Atmosphere.” A period of 135 years is dealt with, during which various methods and agencies have been employed for exploring the high levels of the atmosphere. Dr. John Jeffries crossed the English Channel in January, 1785, and attained a height of about 2012 metres, and in the following twenty years heights of more than 4000 metres were attained. In September, 1862, Glaisher and Coxwell reached a height of 11,200 metres. Three other noteworthy records by manned balloons are mentioned. Tissandier, Spinetti, and Sivel, acting for the French Academy, attained a height of 8530 metres in April,1875; Dr. A. Berson reached 9600 metres in December, 1894; and Berson and Süring in 1901 attained a known elevation of 10,500 metres, and probably 10,800 metres, both men being unconscious at the higher level. Dealing with other than manned balloons, the extreme elevations noted are:—By kites, 7044 metres in 1907; by rigid dirigibles, 6200 metres in 1917; by sounding balloons, 37,000 metres in 1912; and by pilot balloons, height determined by theodolite, 39,000 metres. The aeroplane record has rapidly advanced. In 1909 Latham made 161 metres, and Drexel in 1910 made 1829 metres. Prior to 1914 the maximum height attained, according to Prof. McAdie, was 6000 metres by Perreyon in March, 1913. The war gave a great impetus to the development of the aeroplane, and since the war, in February, 1920, Major R. W. Schroeder, chief test pilot at Dayton, U.S.A., is stated to have attained 10,979 metres; in this ascent the oxygen-supply was exhausted. The 10-km. level is the bottom of the stratosphere or isothermal region, and the top of the troposphere or convectional region—an exceedingly important elevation to meteorologists. Schroeder's thermograph indicated a minimum temperature of -55° C., or 99° below the freezing point on the Fahrenheit scale.
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Attainment of High Levels in the Atmosphere. Nature 105, 437–438 (1920). https://doi.org/10.1038/105437a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/105437a0