The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-09-24
New Theory Of the Gulf stream.

For the benefit of Commerce the courses of
ocean currents have been pretty accurately deli
ned, while the causes of them have been little at
tended to and are less understood.
From very interesting article in Hunts Mer-
chants Magazine, we learn that Captain Vim
cent Tilyon, an old and respectable shlpmaster,
who, during lG years passed in and out Of the
Gulf in the Mexican trade, and had many oppor-
unities of observing the phenomena of the
Gulf, has proposed theory to account for the
constant flow of heated water outof the Gulf 1t
is his opinion that "the Gulf Stream is subter-
ranean and submarine current from the Pacific
ocean, which becomes heated in its passage
through regions heated by neighboring volca-
noes"
| In corroboration Of this bold and novel asser-
! tion, he advances the three following reasons:
"First. The water of the Gulf Stream is hot
ter than that of any part of the Atlantic ocean,
under the equator; therefore, it cannot be the
water of the Atlantic driven into the bay of Mex
leo by the trade winds.
| 'Secondy The waller of the Gulf Stream is
hotter in deep water, where the current begins,
or rather, where it has become regular and
strong, than it is in the bay of Mexico, or sound
ngs where there is little or no current; thus
showing that it comes, not from the shore or
coast, but from the bottom in deep water.
"Thirdly. The captain states that, while sail
ing in the bay of Mexico, in calm weather, he
has several times seen bubbles rising to the sur
face, which on reaching the surface, spread over
| it like tar. lie has collected it in sufficient
quantity to cover his vessels cham bolts. 1t
was bItuminous, offensive TO the smell, grew hard
in the sun, and when dry became durable var
nsh, more durable on iron than paint lie has
gathered the same material on the sand beach
between Campeachy and Laguayra, and is sat
isfed that it is washed on shore from The middle
of the bay of Mexico, where has seen it rise, and
that it is brought up from volcanic regions by
the current of the Gulf passing through Or near
them.
GA French man-of-war on the coast collected
4 sufficient quantity to varnlsh the ships guns,
and the natives also sometimes use it 10 seal the
heads of casks and packages requiring to bepcr-
fecty tight"
The temperature of the Gulf Stream off the
coast of Florida, is about Sc deg, aud in latitude
36 1t is about 81 deg, while the mean tempera
ture of the atmosphere under the equator is on
ly about u deg The water Of the Atlantic un-
der the equator is of course much cooler than
the atmosphere, and may be set down at about 6O
deg, This statement exhibits difference o.
26 deg. of temperature, and destroys the theory
that the water of the Gulf Stream is the water o
the Atlantic, heated under the equator, and rem
ders Capt. Tilyon's theory highly probable, Ethat
it is tho water. of the Pacific, heated by IFS pas
sage through volcanic regions"
That portion of the Atlantic, where the Gul
Stream appears, is separated from the Pacific on
ly by a narrow isthmus, and the water Of the Pa
cific is known to be constantly higher than the
Atlantic, and the passage under the isthmu:
would necessarily create constant current into
the Atlantic. Any current IN the ocean is ma
turaly caused, in the first place, by the eleva
ton of the water at QUO point above the level Of
another point, taking its direction according tc
the outings and shape of the adjoining coasts ant
other Instructions in its course. The whole re-
Igion surrounding the isthmus is known to be vol
canc and subject to frequent earthquakes, which
may be produced by the water coming in contac
with hidden volcanic fires. A late traveller in
the interior Of Mexico makes the following re-
marks concerning phenomenon, which may be
accounted for by Captain Tyop's theory
I"There are lakes of fresh water here where the
chapote is found, bubbling up to the surface
When washed upon the borders, it is gathered
and used as q varitsh for the bottoms Of canoes.
1t has pungcnt smell like that of liquid aspha
Itum, and possesses, think, some of its qualities
have observed remarkable phenomenon out o
sight of land in the Gulf of Mexico, where the
waters bubble up in tho same manner, producing
a similar smell and there can be no doubt thai
the ebullition and efiluvia observed in the gull
are the effect of the stme cause which produces
the asphatum substance found on the surface o
these lakes"