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: "Terrors are turned upon me: they pursue my soul as the
wind; and my welfare passeth away as a cloud."--JOB XXX.]
387. _Why are south winds warm and rainy?_
Because they come from the southern regions, heated by the _hot earth
and sands_, and as they cross the sea they _absorb a large amount of
vapour_.
[Illustration: Fig. 9.--CUMULO-STRATUS, OR TWAIN CLOUD.]
388. _Why are clouds said to indicate the changes of the weather?_
Because, as it is the _state of the clouds_ that, to a great extent,
determines the _state of the weather_, the formation of the clouds must
predicate approaching changes.
389. _What do cirrus clouds foretell?_
_Cirrus_ clouds foretell _fine_ weather, when they fly high, and are
thin and light.
They foretell _light rain_ when, after a long continuance of fine
weather, they form fleecy lines stretched across the sky.
They foretell a _gale of wind_ when, for some successive days, they
gather in the same quarter of the heavens, as if denoting the point
from which to expect the coming gale. (Fig. 5).
390. _What do cumulus clouds foretell?_
_Cumulus_ clouds, when they are well defined, and advance with the
wind, foretell _fine weather_.
When they are thin and dull, and float against the wind, or in
opposition to the lower currents, they _foretell rain_.
When they increase in size, and become _dull and grey at sunset_, they
predict a _thunder-storm_. (Fig. 7.)
[Verse: "When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the
lightning and the thunder."--JOB XXVIII.]
391. _What do stratus clouds foretell?_
_Stratus_ clouds foretell _damp and cheerless weather_.
392. _What do nimbus clouds foretell?_
_Nimbus_ clouds foretell _rain_, _storm_, and _thunder_. (Fig. 10.)
393. _What do cirro-cumulus clouds foretell?_
_Cirro-cumulus_ clouds, in summer, foretell _increasing heat_ attended
by _mild rain_, and a _south wind_; but in winter they commonly precede
the _breaking up of a frost_, and the setting in of _foggy and wet
weather_. (Fig. 4.)
394. _What do cirro-stratus clouds foretell?_
_Cirro-stratus_ clouds foretell _rain_ or _snow_, according to the
season of the year.
These clouds extend in long horizontal streaks, thinning away at their
base, and in parts becoming wavy or patchy.
When they are thus defined in the heavens they are a certain indication
of _bad weather_. (Fig. 6.)
395. _What do cumulo-stratus clouds foretell?_
_Cumulo-stratus_ clouds usually foretell a _change of weather_--from
rain to fine, or from fine to rain. (Fig. 9.)
[Illustration: Fig. 10.--NIMBUS, OR STORM CLOUD.]
[Verse: "Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if
the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside,
then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel." * * *]
CHAPTER XIX.
396. _Why are cloudy days colder than sunny days?_
Because the clouds intercept the _solar rays_ in their course towards
the earth.
397. _Why are cloudy nights warmer than cloudless nights?_