The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-22
The Theery Of Storms.
WAsHIN0TON OrrY, October IL. 1852.

of the people interested in the subject OF storms
Win you have the kindness to publish these observe
lions, which are drawn from facts, multiplied and
too numerous to publish. l have merely taken those
which deemed necessary to trace the storms
Respectfully, &C.. your obi. serv't,
B. s. POTTER, Lieut.. U. 8. Navy.
THE ATLANTIC STORMS
Under the designation Of the IRREGULARITIES of
Atlantic Storms" l made the folloWing investga-
tions of facts for the purpose of confirming principles
which seemed at variance with the phenomena, and
having obtained the desired knowledge, submit my
observations for the benefit Of those whom the sub
ject most ooncerns-nautical men. ntheir outw ard
passage to the southern hemisphere and particularly
in their return to the northern during the sum msr
Season, when storms interrupt the regular winds,
they may find my remarks of some assistance, tina.
being the season of the longest passage.
This storm is taken up from the latitude of l6
degrees % minutes and SO degrees Is minutes west,
on the goth of August, 1913. Where it appeared to
the east of this have not been able to ascertain
1t is question Of much interest, it refers to the
local and physical origin of storms Its progress
through the tropics is marked with velocity OF fifteen
miles the hour, and is 50 undertaking in its
that II resembles those bodies whose paths begun
under a physical law-no obstacles check or turn
from its course the town, the forest, the field add
the ocean, al present scene of devastation. At
the Gulf stream of Cape Florida a new path opeus
for it, taking the direction OF this belt, fret
north and then eastward receiving from the heated
atmosphere, which overspreads there an increased
velocity Of thirty five to forty five miles the hour
According to barometrical comparisons with the
sells in this storm, the minimum pressure of the at
m0sphere was when the Marion encountered it, on
the I'd ofSeptember in latitude ~ degrees SO minutes
north, longitude 43 degrees 40 minutes west, barome
ter % 81. On this data establish the centre there
no ms of he oh
for the frat are 30 90, 20 7, 80 5 for the second
1913, 80 /, 80 The Marion was nearer the axis
line of the storm than the Geneva, Narcella,
meter shows With the Marion the wind ve er
ed from S S. w. to S. E, (true,) and fell
calm, breaking away in the southern sky from
the zenith down, changing the scene from one
OF rain and darkness to bright calm with the rapi-
dity and effect of magic, leaving the agitated
to height which had never witnessed before. In
the course Of thirty minutes the scene Oh 1nged
again. The hurricane burst forth from the opposite
quarter with q fury indescribable-each blast veer
ing to the north while she scudded to the south.
The changes of wind, at the different positions Of
the vessels which, not peculiarties, features,
that claim particular notice, and are the principal
reason for making the investigation
The Geneva, on the 30th Of August, in latitude
81 degrees IS minutes north, longitude So degrees
80 minutes west, had the wind southwest by south:
and on the I'd of September, in latitude 80 degrees
30 minutes, ngtude So degrees &c minutes, had a
any calm, to a furious gale from the north veering
to the n n. E. barometer at the change 29.I,
which afterwards rose to 30.
The bark Mercela, 1926 miles southwest by west
Of the Marion, had the wind on the I'd at the
south, which had veered from S. W., latitude 40
degrees, longitude 80 degrees minutes west,
changed to the n. n W in hard gale all about
the compass, without any calm
These three vessels exhibit the same changes Of
wind, one only being beoalmed, and that one repre-
senting the centre of the storm. The next vessel
under notice is the bark kathleen-on the Both Of
August, in latitude 33 degrees, longitude Ga de-
grees minutes west, barometer so o. course to the
5. Z. with brisk breezes from south to southwest
August 3lst, latitude 81 degrees 80 minutes, long
tnde oil degrees 10 minutes west, wind south to
S. S. W., strong breeze and fine weather, baro-
meter 30. September lst, latitude 20 degrees AZ
minutes, longitude 81 degrees 81 minutes, with
strong breeze from the S. w, barometer 80 Sep
TENDER I'd. latitude % degrees Is minutes, longi-
tude 81 degrees 4S minutes west, moderate breeze
from southwest by south, barometer 80 On this
course the vessel moved slowly out of the storm
with 5. w winds and rising barometer. Bat pre-
vous to this on the Goth her barometer stood 3015
rise, which Mr. Espy says always takes place in
the "annulus of the Storm when the body was
just at the Bahama Bank turning north 1t was
followed on the 9th, and 2Sth, with falling baro-
meter With this vessel th. wind veered from
to south and s. T.. The Marion on the port tack,
and, according TO Colonel Reid's theory, the wind
should have headed her off, being on the right
manu- slue OF the stOIM. Inc drawn from
these conditions apply to vessels in the southern
side of the storm, and must govern them in
heavipg to or standing on. With the wind at S w.
veering south, with falling barometer, the vessel
the westward but all the sodthing she cam until the
barometer rises or ceases to fall. The Kathleen
made southeast course and went comfortably along
with the wind veering from south to southwest,
which is the most favorable course for vessel bound
west. If the vessel finds the storm suddenly upon
her, shifting quick either way, by south to east or
south to west, furl thing and prepare to scud
before norther, and keep the wind the starboard
quarter whether it veer east or west II the wind
has been blowing long from the SOUTH increasing, and
barometer falling fur your square sails, and keeph
head TO the south ana east, ready to scud With the
wind from the north. With these precautions, the
navigator may always avoid the violent bursts Of the
hurricane. The next examination of the storm is
from the Island Of Antigua to Cape Florida Reports
say it passed this Island the 23d of August,
but take that Of the brig Sarah, 2Si miles north
east half north Of that place. where commenced to
trace it =
con the Goth Of August, in latitude 10 degrees %
minutes north So degrees IL minutes west, steering
to the northwest, had fresh gale from the north
east" On the 3d. in latitude 20 degrees 40 minutes
SO seconds west, the wind had veered to southeast,
from lett to right, with the hands of watch, but with
the Marion from right to left both vessels in the right
hand side &c. within the tropics it from east
to south on the right side, and in tho higher lati
tudes may veer either way.
il storms are revolving circles, and receive their
motion from the northeast trade wind on one side,
and the southwest wind the other, the resolution
OF force would give northwest progression fcom
right TO left; but when it obtains the higher lat
tudes, changes in the atmospheric condition may
the rotation. But the philosophy Of atmos-
pheric disturbances viii doubtless ere long settle the
truth of this conjecture.
Report Of the hurricane in the West Indies by the
John *. Gardner :-"August 2lst. latitude Il de-
grees 49, minutes north. longitude 10 degrees vest
variation OF compass half point east /; wind light
from southwest and south south west in the even
ing thunder August 22d, latitude II degrees, 81
minutes 70 degrees liz minutes west wind south
west and south; throughout the night, light airs
In the morning breeze from the south, at noon
from southwest. August 23i latitude "a degrees
30 minutes, % degrees % minutes; wind southwest
and 5. W.; at 2 Nj light breeze from the
west; night calm morning, light airs from W W.
August oath, % degrees Al minutes, 73 degrees 8
minutes w. wind hauled from west to n. w, and
& en- to n. n Il. I; at p. M, the wind commenced
to baul round from west ON n W. and at I P NJ.
n. N f. : in the forenoon a gentle breeze course |