Dove, Heinrich Wilhelm. “Prof. H. W. Dove on the Influence of the Rotation of the Earth on the Currents of its
Atmosphere; being Outlines of a General Theory of the Winds”, pp 227-239; and concluded in its second part,
“Prof. H. W. Dove on the Influence of the Rotation of the Earth on the Currents of its Atmosphere; being Outlines
of a general Theory of the Winds {concluded) “, pp 353-363. Published in The London, and Edinburgh
Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, vol XI, July-December 1837; the entire volume is offered:
8vo, 576pp, two engraved plates. Bound in full calf, with raised bands, and with two black and red spine labels,
and also with the gilt-stamped logo of “The Society of Writers to the Signet” on the front and rear cover. Some
scuffing here and there, but overall a nice, solid copy. $300
This is the first edition in English of the work that appeared in the Annalen der Physik, volume xxxvi, 1836
(vol 113 overall).
Dove's (1803-1879) full thinking on the laws of storms appeared in the self-named book, The law of storms considered in connection with the ordinary movements of
the atmosphere, published in its second edition in London a quarter-century later, in 1862, following the German appearance of 1861. It is interesting to note that the
book was dedicated to Capt. Fitzroy, who for years worked on climatological issues, and had a scientific career that went far beyond the voyage of the Beagle.
Also in the same volume, this quick note on Dove's storms post: Dalton, John. “Dr. Dalton's Notice relative to the Theory of the Winds” p. 390—this is a very short letter
to the editor from Dalton, pointing out that he worked a theory of winds 44 years ago, and was pleased to see that it was working so well still. There are dozens of other interesting articles on a necessarily wide range of topics, including: “Mr. J. J. Sylvester's Analytical Development of Fresnel's Optical Theory of Crystals”, pp 461-469; and concluded “Mr. J. J.
Sylvester's Analytical Development of Fresnel's Optical Theory of Crystals”, pp 537 -542.
On Dove's somewhat up-and-down role in the history of meteorology:
“Dove's role in the history of meteorology was evaluated very controversially by his contemporaries as well as by meteorologists of the 20th century. A. v. Humboldt 1848 has considered Dove to be "the founder of the present day meteorology" and regarded him as the main authority in this field of science. Dove was styled "the Father of Meteorology" in an obituary note published in Nature, cited immediately in the necrologue printed by the Journal of the Austrian Meteorological Society (1879) and also two decades later in the famous History of the Prussian Academy of Sciences (Harnack 1900, vol. I/2). The physicist G. Kirchhoff in his election proposal for W. v. Bezold in 1886 has Dove called retrospectively the "single representative (of the meteorology, this new science which was founded essentially by Dove" --”Heinrich Wilhelm Dove's position in the history of meteorology of the 19th century”, by Karl-Heinz Bernhardt Leibniz-Sozietät e.V .
“In sense of a "dynamic" climatology, Dove has used for the first time monthly mean values , ten- and five-day means, deviations of the mean temperature from the latitudinal mean values) etc. Further, he has studied diurnal and annual changes of air temperature, air pressure, precipitation, and wind direction, but also non-periodic long time temperature changes over extended areas and, last not least, the mean course of weather over the year including pronounced singularities, as cold spells in May, and a number of various weather events. “ AND: “The method of local observations and their statistical treatment was also the starting point of Dove's view on atmospheric dynamics, first of all on the theory of storms. Dove deduced the counteraction of conflicting equatorial and polar currents in mid latitudes from the shape of wind-roses at mid-latitude stations, and he derived the turning law ("Drehungsgesetz") from the statistics of local wind direction changes in time (beginning from Dove 1827).The same way, the behaviour of air pressure, temperature, and water vapour pressure within the both air currents as well as in cases of their displacement each other was derived by Dove from corresponding (barometric, thermic, hygric) wind-roses which show the mean values of those parameters in dependence on wind direction.”--Heinrich Wilhelm Dove's position in the history of meteorology of the 19th century”, by Karl-Heinz Bernhardt Leibniz-Sozietät e.V .
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