On the relations of the diurnal barometric maxima to certain critical conditions of temperature, cloud, and rainfall

It is not my purpose in this paper to discuss the general problem of the diurnal barometric variation. It is certainly a very complex phenomenon, and one of which no satisfactory analysis has yet been made. The atmospheric stress (whatever be its nature) that originates the oscillation, is followed by movements which alter both the vertical and horizontal distribution of the gravitating mass, and the striking differences that characterise the diurnal curve of pressure on mountain peaks, plains, and valleys, and on the ocean as compared with the land, are doubtless due in a large measure to these resulting redistributions of the mass.