No abstract

SUMMARYIn an attempt to obtain precipitation samples free from contamination either from industrial sources or from sea spray, samples were collected by an aircraft of the Meteorological Research Flight over Southern England at heights up to 8,500 ft. Most of the samples still showed clear evidence of industrial pollution : however, five of them were collected under synoptic conditions which render pollution improbable. The amount of dissolved matter in these samples is much smaller than in the remainder, and their composition shows a close similarity with that of samples collected at ground level in regions where pollution is slight. It is considered likely that the solute has been little affected by matter derived directly from land : but it still shows characteristic differences from sea-salt, particularly in the much smaller proportions of sodium and chlorine in comparison with all other elements. It is suggested that these differences must arise from some reaction, occurring either at the sea surface or in the atmosphere itself, but there is insufficient evidence to determine its nature.

SUMMARYIt is shown that most of the salts deposited at Lerwick arrive as sea-spray rather than in true precipitation. Mg, K and Na are present in very nearly the same proportions as in sea water : but there is a very great deficiency of chlorine, which, it is argued, can only be explained on Cauer's hypothesis that NaCl in aerosol form is dissociated and that C1 or HCl is released.

No. 4a1o March 3, 1962 NATURE 827 1\llagazine for the Society. In 1953 he was awarded the Veitch Memorial Gold Medal and in 1956 the Victoria Medal of Honour, the Society's highest award. He gained the O.B.E. in 1955. Until the last two years of his life Turrill belied his years both by his comparatively youthful appearance and by his activities. He was good-humoured and generous in helping those less gifted than himself. Recreation, apart from reading, seemed to come from change of work and his remarkably full life would have been impossible but for the devoted and constant companionship of his wife (nee Florence Emily Homan), whom he married in 1918 and for whom much sympathy will be felt. GEORGE

No abstract