Abstract
THE fact that the upper strata of the atmosphere as a rule move more rapidly than those near the earth's surface, has long been inferred on theoretical grounds, though little direct evidence beyond the marvellous and often unexpected voyages of a aëronauts, or casual observation of the clouds, has hitherto been furnished in its favour. The practical value of this fact is beginning to be felt by engineers since the investigations undertaken by Mr. T. Stevenson in 1876, and more recently (see Journal of Scottish Meteorological Society, vol. v. pp. 103 and 348), showed that even for moderate heights the old notion of assuming the wind to be of uniform velocity at all altitudes was seriously in error, and that to rely upon it in the case of lofty structures might entail disastrous consequences.
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ARCHIBALD, E. THE INCREASE IN THE VELOCITY OF THE WIND WITH THE ALTITUDE . Nature 27, 243–245 (1883). https://doi.org/10.1038/027243b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/027243b0