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REVIEWS 245 A review by E. H. Putley of infra-red detectors is a very clear account of the state of the art in 1967. R. A. Hand reviews satellite instruments (including a footnote mentioning the successful launch of Nimbus 3 in 1969) but it is too much to expect that such a review printed in a book could be up to date in such a fast moving field. There is less excuse for the chapter on filter technology which mentions no recent work and includes no references since 1959! Of general interest is the chapter by J. Strong which includes details of a device to measure human comfort factors in different radiation environments. In conclusionthis volume can be recommended as one that meets a real need for the researcher who is any way involved in atmospheric radiation research. J.T.H. Techniques d’e‘tude des facteurs physiques de la biosphdre. I.N.R.A., Paris. 1970. Pp. 544. F86. Any meteorologist who browses through this comprehensive survey of techniques and instruments will soon become aware that something is missing: but all that matters in the biosphere is covered. A chapter on the barometer would have been superfluous because atmospheric pressure is not a micro-climaticelement that has any important effect on plants or animals. In a way, the book is a justification for holding international symposia. The French were rather late in starting work in agricultural meteorology, but international meetings stimulated them to such an extent that within the Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique there are now at least two centres for bioclimat- ology, and it is from these that most of the many authors are drawn. With others from elsewhere in INRA, and from the French Meteorological Service, they have produced a manual that combines teaching about principles with practical advice about field instruments. There is a generous share of British experience included. An extended review, chapter by chapter, is unnecessary: the spirit of the book is in the introductory essay by Hallaire, the editor-in-chief, particularly in his comment that progress in bioclimatology needs physical measurements. The book sets out what should be measured, and how to do it, and will be a valuable standard source for many years. Unfortunately, this belief is not shared by the part of I.N.R.A. that is the publishing house. The review copy broke on first opening, and if the rest are as bad they’ll be in fragments long before the useful life of the book is over. H.L.P.

Techniques d'étude des facteurs physiques de la biosphère. I.N.R.A., Paris. 1970. Pp. 544. F86

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Page 1: Techniques d'étude des facteurs physiques de la biosphère. I.N.R.A., Paris. 1970. Pp. 544. F86

REVIEWS 245

A review by E. H. Putley of infra-red detectors is a very clear account of the state of the art in 1967. R. A. Hand reviews satellite instruments (including a footnote mentioning the successful launch of Nimbus 3 in 1969) but it is too much to expect that such a review printed in a book could be up to date in such a fast moving field. There is less excuse for the chapter on filter technology which mentions no recent work and includes no references since 1959! Of general interest is the chapter by J. Strong which includes details of a device to measure human comfort factors in different radiation environments.

In conclusion this volume can be recommended as one that meets a real need for the researcher who is any way involved in atmospheric radiation research.

J.T.H.

Techniques d’e‘tude des facteurs physiques de la biosphdre. I.N.R.A., Paris. 1970. Pp. 544. F86.

Any meteorologist who browses through this comprehensive survey of techniques and instruments will soon become aware that something is missing: but all that matters in the biosphere is covered. A chapter on the barometer would have been superfluous because atmospheric pressure is not a micro-climatic element that has any important effect on plants or animals.

In a way, the book is a justification for holding international symposia. The French were rather late in starting work in agricultural meteorology, but international meetings stimulated them to such an extent that within the Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique there are now at least two centres for bioclimat- ology, and it is from these that most of the many authors are drawn. With others from elsewhere in INRA, and from the French Meteorological Service, they have produced a manual that combines teaching about principles with practical advice about field instruments. There is a generous share of British experience included. An extended review, chapter by chapter, is unnecessary: the spirit of the book is in the introductory essay by Hallaire, the editor-in-chief, particularly in his comment that progress in bioclimatology needs physical measurements. The book sets out what should be measured, and how to do it, and will be a valuable standard source for many years.

Unfortunately, this belief is not shared by the part of I.N.R.A. that is the publishing house. The review copy broke on first opening, and if the rest are as bad they’ll be in fragments long before the useful life of the book is over.

H.L.P.