Pictured is a snowflake from John Tyndall, (1820-1893) 'The Glaciers of the Alps' from the @BritishLibrary Collection. John Tyndall was a man of science—draftsman, surveyor, physics professor, mathematician, geologist, atmospheric scientist, public lecturer, and mountaineer.
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In January 1859, Tyndall began studying the radiative properties of various gases. Part of his experimentation included the construction of the first ratio spectrophotometer, which he used to measure the absorptive powers of gases such as water vapor, "carbonic acid" (now known as carbon dioxide), ozone, and hydrocarbons.
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Tyndall related his radiation studies to minimum nighttime temperatures and the formation of dew, correctly noting that dew and frost are caused by a loss of heat through radiative processes. He even considered London as a "heat island," meaning he thought that the city was warmer than its surrounding areas.
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Over the course of his life, John Tyndall published numerous papers and essays on his scientific discoveries, as well as literature, religion, mountaineering, and travel. His accomplishments led him to receive five honorary doctorates and become a respected member of thirty-five scientific societies.
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Credit: British Library digitised image from page 246 of "The Glaciers of the Alps. Being a narrative of excursions and ascents. An account of the origin and phenomena of Glaciers, and an exposition of the physical principles to which they are related ... British Library
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