Abstract
THE work of the Smithsonian Institution's Astrophysical Observatory during the decade 1920–30 is described in vol. 5 of its Annals, recently published after an interval of ten years since the appearance of the preceding volume. To assist the reader in forming a proper perspective view of the work, the volume is prefaced by a brief description of the long research on solar radiation undertaken by the Observatory, first under Langley, and later under Dr. C. G. Abbot. It forms an impressive account of a great investigation, of fundamental importance to meteorology, in which the Smithsonian Institution has been the pioneer and practically the sole worker. The latter is to be regretted, since it is desirable to have independent determinations of so important a quantity as the sun's radiation. There is fortunately no doubt, however, as to the substantial accuracy of the mean Smithsonian value of the ‘solar constant’.
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CHAPMAN, S. Measurements of Solar Radiation. Nature 130, 497–498 (1932). https://doi.org/10.1038/130497a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/130497a0