1
486 REVIEWS The last three chapters - Military radar systems, Civil applications of radar, Applications of radar to physical science -have been rewritten for this edition and include a greater proportion of more recent refer- ences. In the last chapter two pages are devoted to a summary of the part that radar is playing in providing data for the study of the physics of natural and artificial rain formation; only one reference is made, however, to published work and the authors, who have latterly devoted considerable effort to this study, should be encouraged to compile an up-to-date and comprehensive review of the work in this field which is proceeding in quite a few laboratories. The book is well printed and bound, and is adequately indexed. J.E.N.H. Die Wolken. By R. Suring. Leipzip (Geest and Portig). 3rd edition, 1950. Pp. viii, 153; 12 Figs., 4 plates, tables. 11.80 DM. This third edition represents an attempt to make up-to-date a book familiar to many readers, which was a good account of cloud physics as it stood in the years before the last war. Unfortunately of the later work which has enlarged and transformed the subject, reference is made only to the contributions of the Germans, which were cut short at the end of the war. The book is a patchwork, with much interesting material not available in other texts, but without a theme. F.H.L. Atomic energy; a survey. Edited by J. Rotblat. London (Taylor and Francis), 1954. Pp. viii, 72; 9 Figs., 5 plates, 3 tables. This book contains seven lectures given during January and February 1954 at the University of London, by Sir John Cockcroft on Research at Harwell ’, Professor Frisch on ‘Atomic weapons ’, Professor Simon on ‘Atomic power,’ Dr. Loutit on Radiation hazards,’ Dr. Pochin Medical uses of atomic energy,’ and by Professor Lonsdale and Sir George Thornson on ‘Atomic energy and moral issues.’ It is published by the Atomic Scientists’ Association, one of whose objects is to educate public opinion on the technical aspects and potentialities of atomic energy. 6s. 6d. F.H.L. English weathervanes: their stories and legends from medieval to modern times. By A. Needham. Haywards Heath, Sussex (Charles Clarke Ltd.), 1953. Pp. 102; frontispiece, 275 drawings with 37 plates. 10s. 6d. Weathervanes, or windvanes as the author correctly says he would prefer to call them, are conspicuous and picturesque elements in both town and country landscapes, and we all appreciate their help in the study of local weather. Probably few, however, realize what it is the purpose of this little book to show, that the study of windvanes is of high educational value both on account of their artistic designs, often the work of local craftsmen, and in an old country like ours of their wealth of historical and literary associations. A chapter explains the scientific construction of vanes including a reference to those on observatories and lighthouses which actuate recording instruments below: but the essence of the volume is the detailed description of the magnificent plates of drawings arranged as between churches, public buildings, business premises and private dwellings. An idea of the diversity of designs may be gathered from the fact that out of 237 drawings there are only 21 weathercocks and 18 ship vanes - a splendid example of the latter figuring most aptly on the roof of the Missions to Seamen’s Institute in London. Many English counties are represented in the collection but, as the place of publication would suggest, the larger number are from the beautiful county of Sussex. It would be difficult, and, indeed, invidious to single out any of these drawings for special mention but in a meteorological journal three may fittingly be selected. A vane about a century old on the tower of St. John the Baptist’s Church, Crawley, Sussex, shows a dove with an olive leaf suggesting Noah‘s dove in a district liable to river floods; one on the Observatory tower, Maidstone, Kent has forms representing sun, moon and stars while its pointer suggests the sun’s rays; another on a cottage at Staplefield, Sussex, indicates a desperate encounter with the wind as a young lady’s umbrella is being blown inside out with her dog leaning sensibly against it. These three cases have more immediate reference to the weather than any others, but it is impossible not to refer to the frontispiece of the lion vane of Maxstoke Castle, behind whose embattled towers is a gloriously congested cumulus calculated like Wordsworth’s rainbow to make one’s heart leap up. L.C. W.B.

Atomic energy; a survey. Edited by J. Rotblat. London (Taylor and Francis), 1954. Pp. viii, 72; 9 Figs., 5 plates, 3 tables. 6s. 6d

  • View
    216

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Atomic energy; a survey. Edited by J. Rotblat. London (Taylor and Francis), 1954. Pp. viii, 72; 9 Figs., 5 plates, 3 tables. 6s. 6d

486 REVIEWS

The last three chapters - Military radar systems, Civil applications of radar, Applications of radar to physical science -have been rewritten for this edition and include a greater proportion of more recent refer- ences. In the last chapter two pages are devoted to a summary of the part that radar is playing in providing data for the study of the physics of natural and artificial rain formation; only one reference is made, however, to published work and the authors, who have latterly devoted considerable effort to this study, should be encouraged to compile an up-to-date and comprehensive review of the work in this field which is proceeding in quite a few laboratories.

The book is well printed and bound, and is adequately indexed. J.E.N.H.

Die Wolken. By R. Suring. Leipzip (Geest and Portig). 3rd edition, 1950. Pp. viii, 153; 12 Figs., 4 plates, tables. 11.80 DM.

This third edition represents an attempt to make up-to-date a book familiar to many readers, which was a good account of cloud physics as it stood in the years before the last war. Unfortunately of the later work which has enlarged and transformed the subject, reference is made only to the contributions of the Germans, which were cut short at the end of the war. The book is a patchwork, with much interesting material not available in other texts, but without a theme.

F.H.L.

Atomic energy; a survey. Edited by J. Rotblat. London (Taylor and Francis), 1954. Pp. viii, 72; 9 Figs., 5 plates, 3 tables.

This book contains seven lectures given during January and February 1954 at the University of London, by Sir John Cockcroft on ‘ Research at Harwell ’, Professor Frisch on ‘Atomic weapons ’, Professor Simon on ‘Atomic power,’ Dr. Loutit on ‘ Radiation hazards,’ Dr. Pochin ‘ Medical uses of atomic energy,’ and by Professor Lonsdale and Sir George Thornson on ‘Atomic energy and moral issues.’ It is published by the Atomic Scientists’ Association, one of whose objects is to educate public opinion on the technical aspects and potentialities of atomic energy.

6s. 6d.

F.H.L.

English weathervanes: their stories and legends from medieval to modern times. By A. Needham. Haywards Heath, Sussex (Charles Clarke Ltd.), 1953. Pp. 102; frontispiece, 275 drawings with 37 plates. 10s. 6d.

Weathervanes, or windvanes as the author correctly says he would prefer to call them, are conspicuous and picturesque elements in both town and country landscapes, and we all appreciate their help in the study of local weather. Probably few, however, realize what it is the purpose of this little book to show, that the study of windvanes is of high educational value both on account of their artistic designs, often the work of local craftsmen, and in an old country like ours of their wealth of historical and literary associations.

A chapter explains the scientific construction of vanes including a reference to those on observatories and lighthouses which actuate recording instruments below: but the essence of the volume is the detailed description of the magnificent plates of drawings arranged as between churches, public buildings, business premises and private dwellings.

An idea of the diversity of designs may be gathered from the fact that out of 237 drawings there are only 21 weathercocks and 18 ‘ ship ’ vanes - a splendid example of the latter figuring most aptly on the roof of the Missions to Seamen’s Institute in London.

Many English counties are represented in the collection but, as the place of publication would suggest, the larger number are from the beautiful county of Sussex.

It would be difficult, and, indeed, invidious to single out any of these drawings for special mention but in a meteorological journal three may fittingly be selected. A vane about a century old on the tower of St. John the Baptist’s Church, Crawley, Sussex, shows a dove with an olive leaf suggesting Noah‘s dove in a district liable to river floods; one on the Observatory tower, Maidstone, Kent has forms representing sun, moon and stars while its pointer suggests the sun’s rays; another on a cottage at Staplefield, Sussex, indicates a desperate encounter with the wind as a young lady’s umbrella is being blown inside out with her dog leaning sensibly against it.

These three cases have more immediate reference to the weather than any others, but it is impossible not to refer to the frontispiece of the lion vane of Maxstoke Castle, behind whose embattled towers is a gloriously congested cumulus calculated like Wordsworth’s rainbow to make one’s heart leap up.

L.C. W.B.