This book is essentially climatological in character and is based upon observations made during the past fifty-five years at the meteorological station in Arosa. The studies of climatologists, meteorologists and glaciologists have several points of overlap and there is a good deal here to interest the latter and a good deal more for the layman who is interested in snow and snow conditions.
In addition to the usual records of temperature, relative humidity, precipitation and so forth the analyses of conditions affecting and modifying the normals are dealt with in some detail. In this connexion the sections on snowfall and snow cover are particularly instructive. Sections are also devoted to many forms of optical phenomena, to solar radiation and to the aurora, rare in those latitudes.
Naturally, owing to the smallness of the district covered by this work, its usefulness is narrowed even though it often gives data in other parts of the Alps for comparison. Nevertheless, regarded as a microcosmic account of conditions further afield in the Alps it will be of value to many. Like all Swiss books this volume is beautifully produced.
