Practical Exercises in Elementary MeteorologyWard, Robert DeCourcy
Science
Practical Exercises in Elementary Meteorology
Ward, Robert DeCourcy
Meteorology
In the last chapter we studied the progression of the cold wave of low
temperatures in an easterly direction across the United States. Notice now
the relation of the winds on the successive maps of our series to the
movement of the cold wave. Place your wind charts and isothermal charts
for the six days side by side, and study them together. The temperature
distribution on the second day differs from that on the first. What are
the chief differences? Examine the wind charts for these two days. Do you
detect any differences in the wind directions or systems on these days? Do
these differences help to explain some of the changes in temperature?
Compare the temperature distribution on the second day with that on the
third. What are the most marked changes in the distribution? What changes
in the winds on the corresponding wind maps seem to offer an explanation
of these variations?
Proceed similarly with each map of the series. Formulate, in writing, the
general relation between winds and cold waves, discovered through your
study of these charts.
=Cold Waves in Other Countries.=——Cold waves in the United States come, as
has been seen, from the northwest, that being the region of greatest
winter cold. In Europe, cold waves come from the northeast. This is
because northwest of Europe there is a large body of warm water supplied
by the Gulf Stream drift, and therefore this is a source of warmth and not
of cold. The cold region of Europe is to the northeast, over Russia and
Siberia.
Cold waves have different names in different countries. In southern France
the cold wind from the north and northeast is known as the _mistral_,
derived from the Latin word _magister_, meaning _master_, on account of
its strength and violence. In Russia the name _buran_ or _purga_ is given
to the cold wave when it blows along with it the fine dry snow
from the surface of the ground. This _buran_ is apt to cause the loss of
many lives, both of men and cattle. In the Argentine Republic the coolest
wind is from the southwest. It is known as a _pampero_, from the Spanish
_pampa_, a _plain_.
=Cyclones and Anticyclones.=——A system of winds blowing towards a common
center (such as is well shown over the Gulf States on the weather map for
the second day, and over the middle Atlantic coast on the third day) is
called by meteorologists a _cyclone_. The name was first suggested by
Piddington early in this century. It is derived from the Greek word for
_circle_, and hence it embodies the idea of a circular or spiral movement
of the winds. A system of _outflowing_ winds, such as that over the
northwestern United States shown on the maps for the first five days, and
over the western Gulf States on the sixth day is called an _anticyclone_.
This name was proposed by Galton in 1863, and means the opposite of
_cyclone_.
CHAPTER VII.
PRESSURE.
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