The reason why : $b a careful collection of many hundreds of reasons for things which, though generally believed, are imperfectly understood. A book of condensed scientific knowledge for the million — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The reason why : $b a careful collection of many hundreds of reasons for things which, though generally believed, are imperfectly understood. A book of condensed scientific knowledge for the million
John Stuart Mill · en
[Verse: "They shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew
that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out
of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney."--HOSEA XIII.]
669. _What is the cause of trade winds?_
The air over the tropical regions becomes heated and ascends; it then
diverges in two high currents, one towards the north, and the other
towards the south pole, where, being cooled, it again descends, and
returns towards the equator to replace the air as it ascends therefrom.
There is, therefore, a constant revolution of vast currents of air
between the tropics and the poles, producing _north and south winds_.
670. _Why do the trade winds blow from east to west, though, in their
origin, their direction is from north to south and from south to north?_
Because, as the north and south winds blow towards the equator, they
are affected by the revolution of the earth from _west to east_. As
the two winds from the poles approach the equator, they are gradually
diverted from their northerly and southerly course, to an easterly
direction, by the revolution of the earth.
671. _Why is there a prevalence of calms at the equator?_
Because, as the north and the south winds move towards the equator,
they drive before them volumes of atmosphere, which, meeting in
opposite directions, resist and counterpoise each other, and abide in a
state of stillness between the north and south-easterly winds, one on
the north and the other on the south of the equator.
672. _What are monsoons?_
Monsoons are _periodical winds_ which blow at a given period of the
year from one quarter of the compass, and in another period of the year
from the opposite quarter of the compass.
673. _What is the cause of monsoons?_
Monsoons are caused by changes in the position of the sun. When the
sun is in the southern hemisphere, it produces a _north-east wind_,
and when it is in the northern hemisphere, a _north-west wind_. The
north-east monsoon blows from November to March, and the south-west
monsoon from the end of April to the middle of October. The region of
monsoons lies a little to the north of the northern border of the trade
wind, and they blow with the greatest force, and with most regularity,
between the eastern coast of Africa and Hindustan.
[Verse: "He shall blow upon them and they shall wither, and the
whirlwind shall take them away as stubble."--ISAIAH XL.]
674. _What determines the character of winds?_
The character of winds is influenced by the condition of _the surfaces
over which they blow_. Winds blowing over dry and arid plains and
deserts are _dry and hot_. Winds blowing across snow-capped mountains
and regions of ice are _cold_. Winds that cross oceans are _wet_; and
those that cross extensive continents are _dry_.
675. _What winds are most prevalent in England?_