Development of Barometic Depressions

Abstract

IF I have misrepresented Mr. Ley's views, the misrepresentation was certainly unintentional; but after fairly considering his letter in NATURE of February 29, I am unable to see that I have misrepresented his views, so far as they are exposed in his “Laws of the Winds prevailing in Western Europe.” Part II., of course, I ignored. It is not yet published; for aught I know, is not yet written; and as I have not the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with Mr. Ley, it is difficult to understand how I could be expected to express any opinion on a book which is still in the womb of the future. But as to the present work, Part I., which I read and reviewed it is mainly occupied with instances, ingeniously worked out, in illustration of the rule which he distinctly enunciates, that revolving storms are due to the depression of the barometer caused by a heavy rain over a large area. Perhaps, in the same way, Part II. is to be mainly occupied by an examination and discussion of the still more numerous instances in which revolving storms have not followed heavy rain over a large area; and if so, I shall be glad in due time to give it my best attention. But for the present, having before me merely the author's existing work, I repeat what I have, in effect, already said, that the occasional or even frequent sequence of rain and storm does not establish between the two a relationship of cause and effect.