Abstract
MATHEMATICAL expressions giving the varia-tion of ait temperature with such factors as time and latitude have been obtained by a number of different meteorologists by evaluating the several coefficients in a Fourier series. Mostly the investigations have been confined to conditions existing in a particular locality, and in only a minority of cases have world conditions been considered. When only one locality is considered, the task is comparatively straightforward. If, however, the whole world is dealt with, the accuracy of the results will be limited by the number of observing stations existing over the earth, and more particularly by their distribution. To obtain satisfactory mathematical relations a series of observations extending over a considerable number of years is necessary. Over the more densely populated parts of the earth it is usually possible to make a selection of stations which shall be fairly representative of the whole area, but over many large areas no information exists at all. Over other large areas the observing stations are very sparsely distributed, and to obtain results which are true on the average for the whole area is correspondingly more difficult.
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References
"Expression analytique des variations de la température de l'air". Par H. Philippot . Pp. 48. (Bruxelles: M. Hayez, 1924). 5 francs.
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R., R. The Calculation of World Temperatures. Nature 115, 995–996 (1925). https://doi.org/10.1038/115995b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/115995b0