Thermometric Scales for Meteorological Use

Abstract

As Mr. Buchanan has called attention to the advantages of the Fahrenheit thermometric scale as compared with the Centigrade, I will state that at the Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory, while the metric system has been adopted for research work the Fahrenheit thermometer has been retained. The chief reason is the same as that given by Mr. Buchanan, namely, the occurrence of the zero in such a place as to make nearly half the readings below zero. The reading of the scale first upward and then downward is awkward, and the averaging of the results troublesome, besides making in each case a source of error. If the Centigrade thermometer is ever adopted by the English-speaking nations, I would suggest that, at least for meteorological uses, the freezing point of water be marked 273° on the scale, and the boiling point 373°. This would give meteorologists at once the temperatures which are concerned in the change of volume of gases, and embodied in a large number of the formulas used in meteorological work. At the same time it would for ever get rid of the troublesome inverted scale. In printing the results, 200 could be put at the top of the printed column, and the excess over 200 be printed at its proper place in the column. In this way most of the observed temperatures could be expressed in whole degrees by two figures as at present.