Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-09-11
Moons Influence on the Weather.

From the Fourth Number Of DR.. Lardner's Pop
ular Lectures on Science, we make the following
extract The influence which the changes oEthe
moon are generally supposed TO exert upon the
Weather, we think, are very clearly shown by the
Doctor to be fallacious:
Among the many influences the moon is sup
posed, by the world in general, to exercise upon
our globe one Of those which have been mos: uni
versaly believed, in all ages and in an countries is
that which it is presumed to exert upon the changes
OF the weather Although the particular details Of
this influence are sometimes pretended TO be de-
scribed, the only general principle, rule, which
prevails with the world in general is that a change
Of weather may be looked for at the epoehs of new
aud full moon that is to say if the weather be pre-
viously fair will become foul, and if foul will be-
come fair. Similar changes also, sometimes,
though not confidently looked for, at the epochs
Of the quarters.
A question of this kind may be regarded either
as question ofscence or question of fact.
If be regarded as question Of science, we are
called upon to explain how and by what property
ofmatter, or what law Of nature or attraction, the
moon, at distance Of quarter OF million of
miles, combining ITS effects with the sun, at four
hundred times that distance, produce those al
legged changesl To this it may be readily answer
ed that no known law principle has hitherto ex-
planned any such phenomena. The moon and sun
must, doubtless, affect the ocean of air that sur
rounds the globe, they affect the Of water
producing effects analogous TO tides but when
the quantity Of such effect is estimated, 1t is
proved TO be utterly inappreeiable, and such as
could by no means account for the meteorological
changes here adyerted to.
But in conducting investigations ofthis kind we
proceed altogether in the wrong direction, and be-
GIN at the wrong end when commence with
the investigation of the physical Of the sup
posed phenomena. That method of conducting
physical inquiries, which bequeathed to us by
the lllustrOus Bacon, and which has led 10 such
immense extension of our knowledge Of the uni
verse, imperously requires that before we begin
seek fol the causes Of any phenomena, we must
prove beyond The possibility Of doubt, the reality Of
the phenomena, and ascertain with the utmost pre-
cison, all the circumstances attending them. In
other words, we are required to consider all inqui-
ries Of the kind now adverted to- mere questions
of fact before take them. questions OF SCI
ence.
What then, let US see, is the present question:
1t is asserted that the moon produces such an inhu
ence on the weather 10 cause it to change at
and full moon, and the quarters. But in this mode
Of stating the proposition, there implicitly in
cuded two very distinct points, one of which is
simple matter Of fact and the other point ofphys-
ical science.
Ffrst.-It is asserted that at the epochs Of new
and full moon and at the quarters there is gener-
ally change of weather. This is a mere state
ment OF alleged fact
SeeOnd-It is asserted that the phases of the
moon, in other words, the relative position ofthe
moon and in regard to the earth is the cause of
these changes
Now it is evidently necessary 10 settle the first
question before we trouble ourselves with the sec
ond for if it should happen that the first state
ment should prove TO be destitute offoundation the
second falls to the ground
The question Of fact here before US is one most
easily settled. In many meteorological observa-
tons throughout Europe, register Of the weather
in all respects, has been kept for long period of
time Thus the height Of the barometer, the con-
dition Of the thermometer, the hydrometer and the
rain guage the form and character of the clouds,
the times Of the falling Of rain, hail and snow, and
in short, every particular respecting the weather
has been duly registered from day to day, and oft
/ en- from hour 10 hour.
The period of the lunar phases, it is needless TO
say, has also been registered, and it is, therefore,
possible to compare one set Of changes with the
other.
This, in fine, has been done We can imagine,
placed in two columns, in juxtaposton, the series
Of epochs of the and full moons and the quar-
tiers, the corresponding conditions OF the weather
at these times, for fifty or one hundred years back
so that we may be enabled to examine, as mere
matter of fact, the conditions of the weather for
one thousand or twelve hundred full and new
moons aud quarters. The result Of such an exam
lnatlon has been, that no correspondence whatever
has been found to exist between the two phenome-
ma. Thus let us suppose that one hundred and
twenty-five full moons be taken at random from the
table if the condition of the weather at these sew
eral epochs be examined it will be found, probably,
| that in slxty-three cases there was a change of
weather, and in sxty-two there not so that I'M
der such circumstances the old moon in this dvis-
ion of one hundred and twenty-five would favor the
popular opinion; but if another random collection
&C 6ya c,lix L..
and similarly examined, it will probably be found
that sixty-three are not attended with changes of
weather, while sixty-two are. With its Characters
tic caprice the moon on this occasion opposes the
4 popular opinion in short, full examination of the
table shows that the condition Of the weather to
change, or in any other respect, has, as matter of
fact, no correspondence whatsoever with the lunar
phases.
Such, then, being the case. il would be idle to
attempt to seek for "a physical cause Of an effect
which is destitute of truth"
Er0nEIin onca nronosad m .J..t,:. r.o.f Ia