DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20140#0561
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROFILES.
Characteristics of the lower and the upper contour. Alpine and Indian profiles. Graphic representations on Plate IV
of the Meteorological part of the Atlas.
The decrease of temperature with, height cannot be so easily deduced from the
different stations as might be expected, since they are not equally enough distributed
over the various regions; graphic representations may be so contrived as to assist in
obtaining results of general value; but the delineation of a profile uniting topo-
graphically the types of the three chains of High Asia—Himalaya, Karakoriim, and
Kuenfuen—offered various difficulties. Though the direction of the profile could be
easily chosen so as to show, sufficiently well, types of the principal crests and depres-
sions, the meteorological modifications peculiar to the eastern parts, in consequence of
the predominant moisture and southern position, then remained to be completed by
explanatory details. Another difficulty was, that the horizontal and the vertical
dimensions had to be represented on scales widely differing.
The general elevation of the mountains above the plains both in India and
Turkistan, and the great difference in height between the peaks and valleys—all
being so much greater than the respective dimensions of Alpine profiles — would
have resulted in the production of a succession of needle-shaped points, with scarcely
any characteristic individual features, had I followed here the same plan as formerly
in my researches concerning the physical geography the Alps.
Characteristics of the lower and the upper contour. Alpine and Indian profiles. Graphic representations on Plate IV
of the Meteorological part of the Atlas.
The decrease of temperature with, height cannot be so easily deduced from the
different stations as might be expected, since they are not equally enough distributed
over the various regions; graphic representations may be so contrived as to assist in
obtaining results of general value; but the delineation of a profile uniting topo-
graphically the types of the three chains of High Asia—Himalaya, Karakoriim, and
Kuenfuen—offered various difficulties. Though the direction of the profile could be
easily chosen so as to show, sufficiently well, types of the principal crests and depres-
sions, the meteorological modifications peculiar to the eastern parts, in consequence of
the predominant moisture and southern position, then remained to be completed by
explanatory details. Another difficulty was, that the horizontal and the vertical
dimensions had to be represented on scales widely differing.
The general elevation of the mountains above the plains both in India and
Turkistan, and the great difference in height between the peaks and valleys—all
being so much greater than the respective dimensions of Alpine profiles — would
have resulted in the production of a succession of needle-shaped points, with scarcely
any characteristic individual features, had I followed here the same plan as formerly
in my researches concerning the physical geography the Alps.