On the Terrestrial Refraction

Abstract

Recently, a number of geo-physicists have frequently discussed the problems of crustal deformation or Wegener's drift hypothesis by using the results obtained by the revisional surveys. But the quantities to be found are always so small that it is doubtful whether the meteorological effects are negligible.
In this report, the vertical refraction is only discussed. The formulae of terrestrial refraction now exist are all not suitable for practical purposes, for these contain many factors which are very difficult to be calculated geodetically. And hence, in this report it was tried to give the convenient expression for numerical calculation. The result is given by (17)
The accuracy of this expression is 0"1 for z<87° and s<0.01. Giving the normal distribution to p, T, f and dT/dr we have a normal terrestrial refraction. But as shown in the latter part of this paper, a slight change of these functions produces the anomalous refraction which is in no ways negligible.