American literature -- Periodicals; Literature -- Periodicals
It has also been demonstrated that kites may be used by meteorologists
to indicate the approach of storms, which they foretell by a sudden
and continuous veering over a considerable arc, usually about sixty
degrees. This veering begins usually six or seven hours before a
storm, and often as much as twelve hours. And another sure sign of a
storm is the continuous and sudden dropping of the kites followed by
a quick recovery, which shows that the wind is blowing in gusts
interspersed with periods of calm.
In making a series of meteorological experiments which he conducted at
the Blue Hills Observatory, Mr. Eddy often employed as many as eight
or ten kites; and in August, 1895, he sent up twelve kites on one
line, three of them being nine-footers. This is probably the largest
number of kites ever sent up in tandem; and although on this occasion
the line carried only the thermographs suspended in a basket, the
whole weighing not more than two pounds, a very much larger load might
have been carried, had it been desired.
[Illustration: Murray Street. Warren Street.
MURRAY AND WARREN STREETS, NEW YORK CITY, FROM A KITE.
From a photograph taken from a kite by Mr. W.A. Eddy, showing Murray
and Warren Streets, New York City, as they run west from Broadway.]
Among many other curious things about the wind observed by Mr. Eddy,
is the fact that the night winds are by far the steadiest and most
satisfactory for kite-flying. On this account much of his work with
kites has been done in the darkness, although he uses lanterns on
the lines to assist him in locating the kites. It has also been
demonstrated that the force of the wind increases steadily as the
distance from the earth increases. Archibald proved this conclusively,
by suspending a series of wind-measuring instruments at intervals
along the main line, their registration showing almost invariably
greater wind pressure at the higher altitude. Mr. Eddy has furthermore
noted that, while the early morning wind is usually very light at the
earth's surface, it is almost invariably good aloft; and he has again
and again verified the well-established fact that all clouds herald
their approach and are accompanied by increased wind velocity.
THE HIGHEST FLIGHT EVER MADE BY A KITE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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