PROCEEDINGS
of the Tomsk Technological Institute
of Emperor Nicholas II.

Vol. 19. 1910. No. 3.

IV.

A. V. Ignatiev.

METEOROLOGICAL STATION

at the Physics Laboratory of the Tomsk Technological Institute.

1–9.

METEOROLOGICAL STATION

AT THE PHYSICAL LABORATORY

OF THE TOMSK TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE.

A. V. Ignatiev.

In Tomsk there is a meteorological station of the Main Physical Observatory, where for 25 years now regular observations have been conducted with the utmost accuracy and conscientiousness by G. K. Tyumentsev. But this station does not have all the self-recording instruments; it has no instruments for observing clouds, no instruments for studying the upper layers of the atmosphere, no instruments for actinometry, atmospheric electricity, terrestrial magnetism, etc.; finally, it lacks equipment for what is especially important for Tomsk, from which a large number of various expeditions are sent out in all directions—namely, instruments for verifying various meteorological instruments.

Meanwhile, with the presence of two higher educational institutions, it is possible, with a small expenditure of funds, to create, if not a geophysical institute, then in any case a model meteorological observatory, which could serve not only for regular observations and for recording variations of the principal meteorological elements, but also as a verification meteorological bureau, as the center of the projected Tomsk meteorological network.

The present meteorological station at the physical laboratory of the Tomsk Technological Institute is a timid attempt to create such an Observatory under the roof of the Technological Institute.

At present, the meteorological station is served not only by the instruments of the Institute’s physical laboratory, but also by instruments of Tomsk University, since the Institute’s instruments proved far from sufficient. For regular observations, a standard booth with a Wild-system cage has been installed. The booth is placed in the courtyard of the Institute near the physical laboratory. This location is not entirely convenient for observations—

…but since the north and west are almost completely screened from the shelter by buildings, while another site, more convenient for observations—in the middle of the Institute courtyard—the Institute’s Economic Committee did not find it possible to allocate.

In view of the fact that the principal elements of the climate of Tomsk have been determined with sufficient accuracy from the 25-year observations of G. K. Tyumentsev, the immediate task of the new station is not to determine the absolute values of these elements, but to observe their variations by means of self-recording instruments. For this purpose, in my opinion, the position of the shelter cannot play a significant role; and if some appreciable influence of its position should prove to exist, that influence can in any case be taken into account. The convenience of the location—the proximity of the physics laboratory, which, in the absence of a special observer, is absolutely necessary.

In the shelter there are: (in the cage) dry- and wet-bulb thermometers, a hair hygrometer, maximum and minimum thermometers; (outside the cage) 2 small thermographs and a small hygrograph. Near the shelter, on the snow, lie maximum and minimum thermometers for determining the extreme temperatures at the surface of the snow cover. Here also is installed a Besson nephoscope for determining the direction and speed of motion of clouds.

On the second floor of the laboratory building there are: a Wild-Fuess barometer, 2 aneroids, 2 small barographs, and an electric anemometer counter.

On the platform of the tower (at a height of 20 meters above the surface) there are installed a Velichko heliograph, a wind vane with two boards, Robinson cups for determining wind speed, and a rain gauge with a Nipher shield.

Before speaking about the necessity of new instruments and new installations, I shall permit myself to present the observations of the station for December 1909. Observations were made daily at 1 o’clock in the afternoon (\(1^{\mathrm h}p\)). The reason that observations were made only once a day, and not 3 times as prescribed by the instructions, was the absence of a permanent observer. It is desirable to fill this gap. The figures for \(7^{\mathrm h}a\) and \(9^{\mathrm h}p\) were obtained from the records of the corresponding recording instruments.

In view of the fact that the station has only just begun to function and is, so to speak, in the stage of initial development, the figures given below may not be sufficiently accurate, since the corrections for all the instruments have not been determined equally well.

TABLE

of meteorological observations

at the meteorological station of the Physics Laboratory

of the Tomsk Technological Institute.

\[ \varphi = 56^\circ 30' \]

\[ \lambda = 84^\circ 58' \text{ east of Greenwich} \]

\[ h = 125 \text{ meters } (?) \]

December, 1909.

Abbreviated symbols for notes.

December, 1909.

Meteorological Station.

METEOROLOGICAL STATION.

NOTES:
) From the book: Prof. F. Ya. Kapustin. Some Information on the Climate of the City of Tomsk. 1898.
) From the book: G. Tyumentsev. Information on the Climate of Tomsk Province*. 1910.

Without dwelling for the present on the character of the results presented, I shall point only to their quality and try to clarify the additions and corrections that must be made at the station in order to put the matter on a fully scientific footing. The station has only one mercury barometer; for checking and as a reserve it should have one more. The correction of the barometer has been determined from comparisons of its readings with the readings of the barometer of the station of the G. F. O.; this correction was determined from a comparatively small number of counts; it should, of course, be determined quite precisely, and, in addition, the height of the barometer above the barometer of the G. F. O. station and the University barometer should be determined, since their heights above sea level are known.

The determination of temperature from the records of the thermographs during the frosts of December 28–30 proved impossible, since the clocks of both thermographs stopped; eliminating this defect is no easy task, while in the meantime the course of temperature during frosts is of special interest. The temperatures at 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. on the 28th and 29th, and at 7 a.m. on Dec. 30, for deriving the monthly means, were taken, with the kind permission of G. K. Tyumentsev, from his observations. These figures are placed in the table in parentheses. For more detailed treatment (for example, for deriving the diurnal course, etc.) a large-size thermograph should be acquired.

Determination of humidity by hygrometer and on the hygrograph is not sufficiently accurate, since for an exact check in winter hygrometers must be brought into a warm room for several;

days; and since at the station there is only one copy of these instruments, such a check is completely impossible. Moreover, in general hygrometers require, for proper functioning, frequent corrections and cleaning of the hair, and therefore second copies are indispensable. The readings of the so-called absolute hygrometer are correct and more precise; it is intended to make one of Edelmann’s system in the laboratory workshop.

For determining the amount of precipitation, as was already mentioned, a rain gauge on the tower was used. If one compares the figures given above with the figures of G. K. Tyumentsev’s observations, the latter all prove to be decidedly much larger. This is quite understandable: a considerable mass of snow is blown out of the rain gauge on the tower by the wind. It is necessary to install another rain gauge below, but there too, probably, there will be another difficulty: the wind will blow snow into the rain gauge from nearby buildings, so that quantitative observations of precipitation at the station of the Institute’s physics laboratory are very inaccurate unless a rain gauge is placed, for example, in the middle of the Institute courtyard.

For determining the direction and speed of the wind, a vane on the tower and Robinson cups with an electric counter are used. The vane was installed recently, and observations of the wind have not yet been conducted altogether carefully; for the Robinson cups the conversion table has not yet been completed. It is desirable to put observations of the wind on a very solid footing, since, according to G. K. Tyumentsev, his observations of the wind are not entirely accurate owing to the inconvenient position of the vane, while observations on the tower are especially favorable. At present, anemographs are being made in the laboratory workshop for recording both elements of the wind.

For as detailed a study as possible of pressure variations, it is desirable to acquire a self-recording mercury barometer—for example, of Timchenko’s system.

The installation of soil thermometers at various depths has been postponed until summer; it is intended to install either thermometers of Lamont’s system or electrothermometers.

For the study of the upper layers of the atmosphere, a meteorograph and Kuznetsov kites have already been obtained, as well as wire for launching them. Balloons have been ordered and will soon be received. Gas has been run to the tower for filling the balloons. Designs are being prepared for winches for launching balloons and kites.

For the study of the structure of solid precipitation, the physics laboratory has a cold laboratory, in which already pro—

Meteorological Station

investigations were carried out on hail, brought by Prof. B. P. Weinberg from near Helsingfors.

Owing to the low absolute humidity, actinometric and electrical observations are of considerable interest. It is proposed to order an Ångström actinometer and a Benndorf electrograph. For the time being it is possible to make observations with the Violle–Saveliev actinometer and with the electrical instruments of Elster–Geitel and Ebert.

It is also proposed to order from the laboratory workshop instruments for checking meteorological instruments: a Fuess apparatus for checking aneroids, an apparatus for checking thermometers, anemometers, and so forth.

Slowly and, I fear, incompletely will a meteorological observatory develop from the present meteorological station, unless assistance from outside follows; and only the hope of this assistance sustains the workers of the future observatory.

Tomsk.
Physics Laboratory of the Institute.