The Optical Measurement of Lapse Rate *

Abstract

The need for reliable determination of the temperature of the air very near the ground and the difficulties inherent in measurement of this quantity by the ordinary indirect methods are pointed out. It is suggested that the dependence of the speed of light on air density provides a convenient method for the determination of the temperature near the ground by direct measurement of the lapse rate, and evidence is given from other papers to show that this is feasible where the vertical gradient of humidity is not great. The relationship between apparent elevation and lapse rates of temperature and vapor pressure is derived, and the relationship is illustrated by the results of computations.