Abstract
THE report of the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution for the year ended June 30, 1936, refers to the continuation of the study of the relation of weather to changes in the sun's radiation. Two papers by Dr. C. G. Abbot appear to prove that the short interval changes of solar radiation are of major influence on the weather for at least the following two weeks. To test this promising method of weather forecasting, seven additional observing stations are required, but a bill to provide funds for this purpose passed by the Senate was rejected later. The Division of Radiation and Organisms has continued its work on the dependence of carbon dioxide assimilation in wheat upon the wave-length of radiation as well as its experiments on the effect of ultra-violet rays on algse and of light of different wave-lengths on the growth of tomatoes. An extremely sensitive and quick-acting spectroscopic method has been developed for measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide, as well as a highly sensitive robust thermocouple. The Institution has also published the latest results of the high-altitude rocket experiments of Dr. R. H. Goddard, whose earlier work it supported for twelve years. In the most recent trial flights, the liquid-propelled rocket attained a height of 7,500 ft., its automatic stabilizer keeping the flight vertical. Sales of the Smithsonian Scientific Series continue to increase, and in addition to a summary of the work of the Institution and the financial report, the present report of the secretary includes appendixes giving more detailed accounts of the work of the National Museum, the Bureau of American Ethnology, the International Exchanges, the National Zoological Park, the Astrophysical Observatory, the Division of Radiation and Organisms, the Smithsonian Library, the National Gallery of Art and the Freer Gallery of Art.
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The Smithsonian Institution. Nature 139, 665 (1937). https://doi.org/10.1038/139665c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/139665c0