Some aspects of the early history of kew observatory

✍ Scribed by F. J. W. Whipple

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 764 KB
• Volume: 63
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0035-9009
• DOI: 10.1002/qj.49706326901

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Kew Observatory has been a centre for scientific research since 1842, when the use of the building was granted by the Crown to the British Association. The first Superintendent, Francis Ronalds, designed apparatus for the investigation of atmospheric electricity and was a pioneer in the application of photography to recording meteorological elements. Under his successors John Welsh and Balfour Stewart the photographic apparatus was perfected. Beckley's anemograph and recording rain gauge were also developed. The records of sets of meteorological instruments were skilfully combined by Galton in the charts published by the Meteorological Office in the Quarterlyy Weather Report, wherein the sequence of weather at seven Observatories was displayed. The work of Kew Observatory as a standardising institution was also of great importance to meteorologists.