Outlines of a mechanical theory of storms : $b containing the true law of lunar influence, with practical instructions to the navigator, to enable him approximately to calculate the coming changes of the wind and weather, for any given day, and for any part of the oceanBassnett, Thomas
Science
Outlines of a mechanical theory of storms : $b containing the true law of lunar influence, with practical instructions to the navigator, to enable him approximately to calculate the coming changes of the wind and weather, for any given day, and for any part of the ocean
Bassnett, Thomas
Weather
"As a striking instance of the remarkable coincidences confirmatory
of these calculations, I will state, that on Friday, the first of
July last, this gentleman[12] stated that on the next day a storm
would pass north of us, being central a little south of Milwaukie,
and that he thought, from the state of the atmosphere, the storm
would be severe, and that its greatest violence would be felt on the
afternoon or night of the next day. At this time the weather was
fine, without any indications of a storm, so far as I could judge.
At noon on the following day he pointed out the indications of a
storm at the north and north-west, consisting of a dark, hazy belt
in that direction, extending up a few degrees above the horizon,
although so indistinct as to have escaped my observation. At five
o'clock a violent storm visited us, which lasted half an hour,
although a clear sky was visible at the south the whole time. On
Monday morning I learned, from the telegraph office at Chicago, that
early on Saturday afternoon communication with Milwaukie had been
interrupted by atmospheric electricity, and that the line had been
broken by a storm."
NEW YORK STORM.
After this was written, the author discovered that the vortex was
equally violent the day before at New York, July 1st, 1853. An account
of this storm follows. The calculation has not been made, but it is easy
to perceive that the latitude of the vortex, on July 1st, must be very
nearly that of New York--being in latitude 43° next day and ascending.
"At a meeting of the American Association, convened at Cleveland,
Professor Loomis presented a long notice of the terrible hail storm in
New York on the 1st of July. He traced its course, and minutely examined
all the phenomena relating to it, from a mile and a half south-east of
Paterson, N.J., to the east side of Long Island, where it appeared
nearly to have spent its force. It passed over the village of Aqueenac,
striking the Island of New York in the vicinity of the Crystal Palace.
It was not much more than half a mile wide. The size of the hail-stones
was almost incredibly large, many of them being as large as a hen's egg,
and the Professor saw several which he thought as large as his fist.
Some of them weighed nearly half a pound. The principal facts in
relation to this storm were published at the time, and need not be
repeated. The discussions arising among the members as to the origin and
the size of these hail-stones, and the phenomena of the storm, were
exceedingly interesting. They were participated in by Professors Heustus
and Hosford, of Cambridge University, Professor Loomis, and Professors
Bache and Redfield. The latter two gentlemen differ somewhat, we should
suppose radically, in their meteorological theories, and had some very
sharp but very pleasant "shooting" between them."[13]
CENTRAL VORTEX DESCENDING.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account