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This paper reports the results of a study of water-vapour-sorption kinetics and the accompanying length changes observed in single wool fibres with the improved sorption vibroscope described in Part I of this series. Among the more interesting observations, it is shown that: (i) after a step change in relative humidity, desorption, other than to zero regain, continued for very long times (in excess of eight days) with no sign of termination, whereas absorption reached completion relatively quickly; (ii) the position of the desorption limb of the regain versus r.h. isotherm is both time- and size-of-step-dependent; (iii) the length versus r.h. isotherm in these experiments exhibited a maximum at about 80% r.h.; (iv) length values on desorption were shorter than the corresponding absorption values over most of the r.h. range, i.e., hysteresis effects were exhibited in length-swelling; the width of the hysteresis loop appeared to be stress-dependent; and (v) length-swelling kinetics for small sorption steps are complex and usually consist of two or more stages, the first stage being rapid and coinciding closely with the first stage of water uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mean temperature for the Northern Hemisphere had a warming trend from 1890 to 1950 and a cooling trend since 1950. The eastern and central United States had colder temperatures in 1961–1970 than in 1931–1960. The temperature changes were associated with an adjustment of hemispheric circulation from more frequent zonal flow between 1900 to 1950 to more frequent meridional flow since 1950. Regional variations in magnitude and direction of the change were largely related to position in relation to the upper air westerly wave pattern. Time series of individual circulation indices tend to resemble the step function model of climatic change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that air pilots must possess basic knowledge of meteorology. It will enable them to read a weather map and understand the weather significance of the clouds. The study of meteorology will also help them in their profession. For a pilot, it is essential to understand the significance of clouds and other weather appearances. An aviator should also know whether the expected storm is developing sooner than anticipated.

Determination of the amount of absorbed water attributable to the various types of side-chain polar groups in wool keratin at humidities of up to 80% r.h. enables a stoichiometric analysis of the wool-water isotherm to be made. The amount absorbed by the aromatic (tyrosine) hydroxyl and aliphatic (serine and threonine) hydroxyl groups was estimated from the change in the water-absorption isotherm after separate chemical modification of these groups. The reduction in water content was much less than that for either amino-group or carboxyl-group modification, the data for these having been reported previously for wool from the same source examined under identical conditions. The difference between the sum of the water attributable to the side-chain basic, carboxyl, and hydroxyl groups, and the water content of unmodified wool has been designated as water attached to peptide and amide groups. The water-sorbing power of these groups is in good agreement with experimental data for peptide groups in polyglycine. It thus appears that all peptide groups are accessible to water vapour. A change in properties of the wool-water system at 75–80% r.h. is attributed to the formation of a hydrogen-bonded network. The water involved is termed ‘network’ water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crimp parameters of merino-wool fibres, i.e., the uncrimping energy and stress, decrease with an increase in relative humidity from 5.14 × 10³ g cm/cm³ and 0.149 × 106 g/cm² at 0% r.h. to 0.37 × 10³ g cm/cm³ and 0.021 × 106 g/cm² at 100% r.h., i.e., decreases of 93 and 86%, respectively. The decrease in the uncrimping parameters is linearly related to the increase in the ‘bound’ or ‘localized’ water up to the solution region of the wool-water isotherm. In the solution region, the crimp parameters appear to be associated with the ‘loose’ water. It is suggested that the contribution of the matrix phase of the fibre (crimp A) to the over-all crimp decreases with an increase in relative humidity until in water the main crimp is related to the microfibrillar phase (crimp B). The value of the drying uncrimping stress measured in this study, i.e., 1.25 × 108 dyn/cm² is close to the value of 1.63 × 108 dyn/cm² obtained previously for the ‘hygrostress’ at zero elongation, which indicates a parallelism between the two phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents ecological studies on the large copper butterfly Lycaena dispar (L.d.) batavus at Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve in Huntingdonshire, England as of 1968. Race of L.d. Haw. most widespread in Europe; Native habitat of L.d. batavus and L.d. dispar; Relationship between egg-laying by copper butterfly and air temperature; Factors influencing seasonal mortality rates of the butterflies.

Presents a revised map of the climates of China, which follows a slightly modified Koppen classification. Temperature and precipitation records; Major climatic realms; Dry climates of Northeast China.

The article discusses on the ability of a human being in controlling his own environment. It has been bereaved that a place with the highest population density occurs in an area with the mean temperature of between 70° F and 80° F. It was concluded in the article that designing for climatic modification by integrated site planning has advantages in reducing the wind speed and increasing the air temperature in the spaces around buildings which reduces the heat loss from the building concerned so that both the capital and running cost to maintain a given degree of thermal comfort are also being reduced.