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
Because the drops, in falling, _meet and unite_, and also gather
_moisture_ in their descent. The greater the height from which a rain
drop has descended, _the larger it is_, provided that its whole course
lay through a _rainy atmosphere_.
The size of the drops is also influenced by the _amount of moisture
in the atmosphere_, the _degree of cold_, and the _rapidity_ of the
_change of temperature_, by which the drops are produced.
419. _In what seasons of the year are rains most prevalent?_
Throughout _Central Europe_ rains are most prevalent in _summer_, but
in _Southern Europe_ the preponderance is on the side of _winter rains_.
420. _In what months of the year does it rain most frequently in this
country?_
It rains more frequently _from September to March_, than from _March to
September_; but the _heaviest rains_ occur from _March to September_.
421. _Why are there more rainy days from September to March?_
Because the temperature of the air is more frequently lowered to that
degree which _precipitates its vapours_.
_Months in the order of their comparative wetness_:--1. October.
2. February. 3. July. 4. September. 5. January. 6. December.
_Months in the order of their comparative dryness_:--1. March. 2.
January. 3. May. 4. August. 5. April. 6. November.
422. _In what part of the world does the greatest quantity of rain
fall?_
The greatest _quantity_ of rain falls near the _equator_, and the
amount _decreases towards the poles_.
[Verse: "Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the
bottles of heaven."--JOB XXXVIII.]
423. _In what part of the world do the heaviest rains occur?_
The _heaviest_ rains occur in the _tropics_, during the hot season. The
drops of rain in the tropical regions are so large, and the force with
which they descend so great, that their splash upon the skin causes a
_smarting sensation._
424. _In what parts of the world do the least rains occur?_
There are some parts of the earth which are _rainless_, such as Egypt,
the desert of Sahara, the table lands of Persia and Montgolia, the
rocky flat of Arabia Petræ, &c.
425. _How many rainy days are there in a year?_
The frequency of rainy days is greatest in countries near the sea,
and their number decreases the further we journey from the sea-border
towards the inland. In England it rains on an average 152 to 155 days
in the year.
426. _In what part of England does the greatest amount of rain fall?_
In the town of _Keswick_, in Cumberland, where 63 inches of rain fall
in a year; Kendal, in Westmoreland, 58 inches; Liverpool, 34 inches;
Dublin, 25 inches; Lincoln, 24 inches; London, 21 inches.
427. _Why do the heaviest rains occur at the tropics?_
Because the _hot air_ absorbs a large amount of vapour, and rises into
the higher regions of the atmosphere, where the vapours are _suddenly
condensed into heavy rains_, by cold currents from the poles.
428. _Why does the greatest quantity of rain fall at the equator?_