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38 The values of $$\delta ps$$ determined from the barograph traces on this occasion were as follows:-

Under the temperature and pressure conditions prevailing, the maximum ascending velocities for the three stations were approximately as follows :-

The Variation in speeds is consistent with the relative intensity of the storm.


 * Bulletin of the American Meterological Society,February 1942; "The effect of vertical acceleration on pressure during thunderstorms (Levine)""; March 1943; "The Determination of Vertical Velocities in Thunderstorms (Buell)."

Comments by D.Met.S Reviewing Committee on Papers in this Issue

1. "Does the stratosphere exist?" by Dr F. Loewe.

This is an interesting and stimulating paper by reason of its subject and its treatment. Swiss meteorologists at Payerne, both experimentally in a test chamber and in actual radio-sonde flight results found that there was a considerable thermal lag in the recordings of the temperature element. The critical condition under which this lag becomes important is the dependent on the velocity of ventilation and the density, and would in normal radio-sonde flights commence to be important near the level of the stratosphere in Europe. The Swiss from quantitative calculation of the lag arrived at the conclusion that the approximate isothermal condition found for the stratosphere was really due to this lag and that in reality a lapse rate of 0.5°C. per 100m is generally prevalent.

Dr. Loewe has reviewed the subject general and while he can find no flaw in the work of the Swiss, he gives convincing reasons for accepting the present temperature and lapse rated recorded in the stratosphere. He shows that is the Swiss ...../contention in