New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-06-16
The Phenomena OF Ocean Currents Explained.
To ne Eaitcr Of The, Tribune.

The Phenomena OF Ocean Currents Explained.
II ne Ealtor of The Trlbisas.
SIR; The recent observations of the
motion OF the Earth. under swinging pendulum.
enable me with less hesitation than otherwise
should, 90 submit theory having bearing m tina,
experiment, but instead OF beng corrobOranon Of a
known truth, involving a series Of truths as yet M
known and unaccounted for. and which will be the
means Of showing conclusiyely that great AMI COD
slant Ocean currents are caused by property pecu
lar to fluids generally. and that primary Ocean cur
rents, such rs The Gull stream &C are 70 great ex-
tent optical delusions-as much so as that the hay
STACK new past the old lady. riding railway car
About IL months since. from observations made
$ We lay becamed IN the midst OF the Atlantic was
lead 10 suspect that the shores OF the Ocean were
running around Us. which was the more fully I'M
pressed upon my mind by the ship heading nearly
east IN the morning. south AT midday and nearly
Nest al night a. i time when neither wind nor
alutd IN me notion indeed the ships destination
was westward a course We could not hold and from
subsequent reliable experiments have come 10 GER
20 explain.
1t is now conceded by all. and admits OF easy de-
monSiratlon that any portion OF the Earths surface
between the Equator and the Poles. has, with re-
spect 10 the vibrations of pendulum. a circular mo-
uon that on the North side Of the Equator IN the
direction OF left hand helix and the South side
4 night hand helix, suggest that body OF water
the Earth's surface would apparently move IN Ill
rectlon contrary to the above mentioned motion Of
the Earth
For example, If take the North Atlantic Ocean,
have, on this SuppOstlon. a downward or North
and South current on the European side East TO
West al the Equator, and upward or South to North
on the American side, which IS actually the case
and If take the South Atlantic. the apparent move
ment Will be the reverse or upward South 20 North
on the African side, East 10 West at the Equator,
and North 10 South on the American side which, on
gnrr0FDrtfe1
maintain, but for local disturbances and certain con-
hguratonS Of the containing sides. all bodies OF
funds great and small, pariake OF this apparent mo-
ton Il Will also De seen that the Center OF large
bodies OF water are at rest qualified and depending
upon the proximity of land 40 surface or bottom and
currents, called and observed begin 70 be felt
the containing sides, and cease where the land be-
gins 10 affect them, making apparent currents where
the water Is actually without notion and showing
no current where thC water Is really moving Al the
rate of many miles an hour
Currents produced by local disturbances Is pro-
montares, or lands ung into apparent currents, are
actual. and are as the angle OF incidence currents
produced by shallOwneSs m parts are also actual, by
reason of the land carrying the water with It IN the
midst OF water Al rest.
Much could be adduced # necessary in support OF
ths theory II viii only further say that with 1t and
the help of a correct current chart the Approximate
relative depths OF oceans might DC arrived NJ with
some degree Of accuracy, beside accounting for many
things which now obscure The motions Of
Tides, If not owing very much, at least owe some
which may appropriately be termed REST, and IN IL
luStration Will give experiments which must con-
clusVely prove the position have taken.
Experiment No. Let table be made 70 rotate
upon It's center. and have over TINS center and con-
nected with 1t a pendulum hung free TO turn IN any
direction set the pendulum in motion vlbratng-and
turn the table round IN either direction, It will be
seen the table moves without altering the plane IN
which the pendulum IS swinging, which Will allow
ing for torson IN the Suspender always be the same,
and required could be made to describe ratIal lines
showing the movement OF the table.
If upon this table and over its center be put tub
OF water and on the water float piece of paper with
line across H. and the pendulum again set IN motion
over the line upon the paper. 1t Will be- seen that
however the table may be turned the water IS not
affected with respect 10 the plane IN which the pen
du.um is vibrating. THIS VIII concuslyely show that
If the radlal lines made owing 10 the motion Of
the table under the pendulum, the absence OF them
on the water must be because II did not move.
Experiment No 2-Lct the same vessel Of water be
put out the periphery OF the table and hOat upon
the water a small table with vibrating pendulum
upon H. start the pendulum a line drawn on the
small table and the main table 10 reyolye, II
Will be seen that the pendulum vlbraes over the line
continually, Whatever may be the motion of the nam
table but take away the water aud let the small
table become part of the larger one, and the aal
movements are at once made. Both these expert
ments clearly to prove the fact that the water does
not move, but the containing sides must move round
IT, thereby producing an apparent current near them
This theory Of currents of fluids has a bearing ON
the different nights OF water at different parts OF the
Globe as on the opposite sides OF the lsthmuS OF Pa
mama currents Of air, &C. and doubtless exercised
gIeat influence at the gneous period oi me WORDS
history am &c, JOHN W. "'AA''''