The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume XII, No. 2 [‎260r] (22/154)

The
Journal.
Geographical
AUGUST, 1898. Vol. XII.
ON THE ANNUAL RANGE OF TEMPERATURE IN THE SUR
FACE WATERS OF THE OCEAN, AND ITS RELATION TO
OTHER OCEANOGRAPHICAL PHENOMENA.*
By Sir JOHN MURRAY, K.C.B., F.R.S., LL.D., D.Sc.
{Of the “Challenger” Expedition.)
1. Introductory.
Temperature may be defined as that state of matter on which depends
its relatn e readiness to give or to receive heat. Variations of tempera
ture are intimately associated with all changes in nature, and no investi
gation is more important or more interesting to the scientific man than
the study of these temperature variations, and their relation to other
natural phenomena. In the present communication, it is proposed to
consider with some detail the temperature variations which take place
in the surface waters of the ocean during the course of the year, and to
indicate some of the physical and biological phenomena which appear
to be directly or indirectly connected therewith.
On the diy land there is often a very wide range of temperature
in the air immediately resting upon the ground] The temperature at
the surface of the sandy deserts of the tropics frequently rises during
the day to 120° or 140° Fahr., and more rarely to 200° Fahr.; and when
these hot particles of dust are lifted into the air by winds, the temperature
of the air rises occasionally to 125° Fahr. in the shade, while during the
night the temperature sometimes falls below the freezing-point. Reek
surfaces in the tropics, which during the day are heated up to 137°
Fahr., are cooled so rapidly by radiation at night that, unable to sustain
* Read at the Royal Geographical Society, February 28, 1898. Mar, p. 224.
No. II.— August, 1898.] ’ t