4. On a Method of Reducing Observations of Underground Temperatures, with its Application to the Monthly Means recorded in the Report of the Royal Observatory of Edinburgh, &c.

Extract

In this paper the same general method of reduction as that of Professor Thomson, explained in the preceding paper, is followed. The numerical labour is, however, much diminished by using the monthly means given in the observatory report as data for twelve equations of condition, instead of the methods by which Professor Forbes had obtained data for twelve, and Professor Thomson for thirty-two equations of condition. The method adopted in the present communication, although not susceptible of such minute accuracy as the more elaborate methods referred to, seems to be as accurate as is necessary for a fair representation of the phenomena, and has a great advantage in point of simplicity and ease of working.