Meeting for discussion on the ionosphere

Abstract
Professor E. V. Appleton, F. R. S. : In opening this meeting it is of interest to recall that a discussion on the same subject was opened by Sir Ernest, now Lord, Rutherford, before the Society about seven years ago. I, for one, have found it very interesting and instructive to read again the account of that meeting in the Proceedings. I noticed, for example, that we are now able to report substantial progress during the intervening seven years, so that it is now possible to answer in greater detail and with more certainty some of the questions which were raised at that discussion. It is also gratifying to note that various suggestions were then made which have turned out to be very fruitful and particularly helpful to the experimental workers in this field. In the first place, it is worth noting that our subject has acquired a name. The last discussion was on “The Electrification of the Upper Atmosphere,” whereas our present discussion is on “The Ionosphere,” a term first suggested by Mr. Watson Watt. In opening the discussion I feel that, perhaps, it ought to be my task to report progress on the various lines mentioned by Sir Ernest Rutherford and, in doing so, to go very generally over the whole field, leaving the detail to be filled in by later speakers. I propose also to deal chiefly with information which has been obtained by the methods in which I have been specially interested, namely, those of radio exploration.
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