This book describes the fortunes and activities of one of the few specialist publishing houses still in the hands of the same family that established it over years ago, and with it gives a p- trayal of those members who directed it. In doing so it covers a period of momentous historical events that directly and in- rectly shaped the firm's actions and achievements. But this volume tells not only, in word and picture, the story of Springer- Verlag but also, interwoven with it, the story of scientific p- lishing in Germany over the span of a hundred years. The text, densely packed with carefully researched facts and figures, is illuminated and supplemented by many illustrations whose captions, together with the author's notes, contain a wealth of important and interesting information. The reader is urged to read these captions as well as the notes so as to - preciate in full the events and people described. I have added a few footnotes to clarify or expand on some matters that may be unfamiliar to non-German readers. Because of the long period of time covered in these pages many of the documents and letters shown and commented upon are different in diction and style from those of today. An - tempt was made in the translation to keep the flavour of the original language and not contemporise it.

This book describes the fortunes and activities of one of the few specialist publishing houses still in the hands of the same family that established it over years ago, and with it gives a p- trayal of those members who directed it. In doing so it covers a period of momentous historical events that directly and in- rectly shaped the firm's actions and achievements. But this volume tells not only, in word and picture, the story of Springer- Verlag but also, interwoven with it, the story of scientific p- lishing in Germany over the span of a hundred years. The text, densely packed with carefully researched facts and figures, is illuminated and supplemented by many illustrations whose captions, together with the author's notes, contain a wealth of important and interesting information. The reader is urged to read these captions as well as the notes so as to - preciate in full the events and people described. I have added a few footnotes to clarify or expand on some matters that may be unfamiliar to non-German readers. Because of the long period of time covered in these pages many of the documents and letters shown and commented upon are different in diction and style from those of today. An - tempt was made in the translation to keep the flavour of the original language and not contemporise it.

The work in your hand contains three main chapters, covering the chemistry of the condensed phase in the atmosphere, first, the different forms of atmospheric waters (precipitation, fog and clouds, dew), and secondly dust, now mostly termed particulate matter and, more scientifically, atmospheric aerosol. A third section treats the gases in the atmosphere. An introductory chapter covers the roots of the term atmospheric chemistry in its relations to chemistry in general and biogeochemistry as the chemistry of the climate system. Furthermore, a brief overview of understanding chemical reactions in aqueous and gaseous phase is given. It is my aim to pay respect to all persons who studied the substances in the air, to those who made small, and to them who made giant contributions for the progress in atmospheric science. I’m not a historian who is able to present the past from a true perspective of their time – this also would not be my aim. If possible, however, I try to interpret the past – almost limited to experimental fi ndings in the nineteenth century – through current values, without dismissal of the problems and ideas of earlier scientists. In this way it is possible to draw some ideas on the historical chemical state of the air. Hence, I name this voyage critical. However, nowhere in this book it is my attention to express my criticism to colleagues and scientifi c ancestors. Great scientists too were subject to errors; doing science consists from the permanent loop observation, interpretation, conclusion, and again testing against new observation. If this volume can contribute more than to be “a nice story” on atmospheric chemistry, then hopefully it inspires the reader to more critical reading of scientifi c publications, and, not to forget the older one.