The Philosophy of the Weather. And a Guide to Its ChangesButler, T. B. (Thomas Belden)
Science
The Philosophy of the Weather. And a Guide to Its Changes
Butler, T. B. (Thomas Belden)
Weather; Weather forecasting
3d. _It is emphatically a surface wind._ The incident storm winds, the N.
E. and S. E., frequently _commence blowing_ under the storm, toward its
point of greatest intensity, _up near the line of cirro-stratus
condensation_, evidenced by the running scud; or blow there with most
rapidity, and so continue for hours before the whole surface atmosphere
from thence to the earth becomes involved in the movement; and sometimes
without being felt below at all. Not so with the N. W. wind; it _begins at
the surface_ and blows there with more rapidity than above; it seems to be
attracted by the earth; it interposes between the earth and the trade,
wedging the trade up and occupying its place. It blows under at all
seasons of the year, but most readily and strongly from a surface of snow
whose electricity is always positive. Hence it blows most strongly and
_continuously_ when snow has fallen at the north, and prevails during
winter very much in proportion to the extent and continuance of the
covering of snow which invests the earth in that direction. It follows
after storms, and particularly warm rains, during the autumn, winter, and
spring months, which have a lateral southern extension. Whether it is
increased by the snow from the surface from which it blows, or is caused
by the same magnetic action which causes the great fall of snow, is a
question we shall consider hereafter.
4th. It does not connect or mingle with the trade current in any way, or
change or divert the course of that current; but interposes between it and
the earth, elevating the trade in proportion to its own volume, above the
influences of the earth (when the trade becomes free from condensation,
and singularly, clear); and raising _proportionately_ the barometer. An
experienced observer can frequently estimate, with considerable accuracy,
the rise of the barometer, by measuring with his eye, (when the clouds
will enable him to do so,) the depth of this interposed N. W. current. The
barometer rarely rises after a storm, for twenty-four or forty-eight hours
if the wind continues at any point from S. W. to W. N. W., but always
rapidly as soon as the genuine N. W. current with any considerable depth
interposes and elevates the trade.
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