Reviews

Physics of the Aurora and Airglow. By J . W. Chamberlain. London (Academic Press), 1961. Pp. xviii. 704. Numerous plates and tables. 118s.

If the title of this book is to be taken at its face value, then the first thing to strike any reader is the general misbalance of the subject matter. The book could be styled much more accurately as ‘ The photometry and spectroscopy of the aurora,’ for all other aspects of the phenomena, the electrodynamics, the hydromagnetics and the geomagnetics are treated but broadly, and on a rather elementary level compared with the optics, which, after all, is the author’s main interest.

The chapters on photometry and spectroscopy are excellent, the earlier sections forming a good general introduction to the quantum theory of spectra and would be of use to students interested in that field. The problems of making accurate measurements of the intensities of the different spectral components of the aurora and airglow are dealt with at great length, a complete mathematical analysis being made. The atomic and molecular origins of the various portions of the spectra are discussed, together with the latest theories as to the modes of excitation. As a text on this subject one can do nothing but give the book the highest recom- mendation.

Only four chapters out of the thirteen deal with topics not invoking optical theory. These are all very general and discuss such subjects as the geomagnetic field and its effect on the motion of charged particles, the geographical and temporal distribution of the occurrence of aurorae, the radio aurora and the behaviour of auroral particles in interplanetary space.

This book is well provided with subject and author indices and also contains an invaluable and cam- prehensive bibliography; it will be a vital text for anyone working on problems of the aurora or airglow, but only as a source-book on the photometric and spectroscopic aspects of the phenomena.

G.M.T.

Annual Report on the Meteorological O f i e for the year January to December 1960 (M.0.710). London (H.M. Stationery Office). Pp. 68; 4 Plates; 11 Figures; Tables. 4s. 6d.

Most members of the Society hold a high opinion of the work of the Meteorological Office, and this latest Annual Report shows that no effort is being spared by the Office fully to carry out its functions and to maintain its high standing in world meteorology, in spite of continuing staff shortages.

The Report for 1960 contains two innovations : it covers the calendar year and includes notes on the weather of 1960, with diagrams. Both are improvements, but although the weather notes are interesting, their position in the Report makes them rather distracting to one reading the Report as a whole and they might well be given as an Appendix - at least while our weather remains ‘ uncontrolled.’ Certain changes in organization made in 1960 foreshadow the move of the Office to its new headquarters in Bracknell in 1961. A noteworthy event was the opening of a third Weather Centre in Manchester.

The Report cannot, of course, detail all the activities of the Office (although the subjects mentioned make a fascinating list and show how a modern meteorological service is concerned in almost all national activities) and singles out two topics for special mention, ‘ The forecasting services ’ and ‘ Research on the high atmosphere.’ The former will be read by members very much with Dr. Stagg’s 1961 Presidential Address in mind : why is it that such an impressive and efficient organization should be so little appreciated by the non-specialist community ? The answer may well be that still more needs to be done to make the public conscious of the information available to it and that there is need for greater accent on ‘ public relations.’ The success of the Weather Centres appears to support this view, as it is only in these centres that members of the public can get answers to their own specific questions. It also seems strange in a country so weather- conscious as this that such scant attention should be paid to weather presentation by the Television authorities.

It is pleasing to note both the attention being paid to problems of the high atmosphere and the renewal of interest in geomagnetism and seismology.

W.A.G.

Atmospheric diffusion. By F. Pasquill. London (Van Nostrand Co.), 1962. Pp. xii, 297; 60s.

The study of the transport of heat and momentum and of the dispersal of airborne material in the lower atmosphere is essential for meteorology and also of considerable importance to civil engineers, horticulturists and many others. Yet despite this wide field of interest, the number of text-books of micrometeorology is still very small. Most of the work done in the last twenty years or so in this field is to be found only in the journals of learned societies or in the reports of symposia. Dr. Pasquill’s book is therefore a welcome addition to the literature of meteorology.

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