Terrestrial refraction

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"Every one conversant with nautical astronomy is aware that some

uncertainty always attends observations made with the natural horizon, from the varying amount of the dip occasioned by terrestrial refraction. The cause of these variations is very obscure. The best authorities seem to regard differences of temperature in the air and water as the sole cause of the irregular density of the lower strata of the atmosphere on which the varieties of the dip depend. It is known that, in general, when the water is warmer than the air, the dip is greater than that given in the tables; and that when the water is colder than the air, the dip is less. But cases occur where the deviations from the tables are found to bear little relation, at least in amount, to the relative temperatures of the air and water. Some other property of the atmosphere must, therefore, be sought after, by the influence of which the effects of temperature are modified."