The daily comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1850-1856, 1854-05-18

The CUR STnEAm-At a recent
meeting Of the American Scientific
Association at Washington, a paper
was read on the distribution Of tenn.
perature in and near the Gulf Stream,
off the coast Of the United States, from
observations made in the Coast Sur.
vey by Prof. BAcHE:
This was illustrated by q number
Of Ingenious charts, drawn to exhibit
the varying Temperatures Of the sea at
regular distances from the coast to
about four hundred miles eastwardly
in the Atlantic. Many interesting
facts were developed, and some con-
siderable approach made towards dis
covering the laws to which these vari-
atoms Of temperature are subject,
Some remarks were made on the form
of the floor or the bottom Of the ocean,
going to show that along our coast
some extraordinary depressions exist.
For instance, on the seward line
abreast Of Charleston, from the shore
to sixty miles out, the depth increases
pretty gradually, till at that distance
it has acquired a depth of one hundred
fathoms. But it soon deepens with
great rapidity, as if on the side Of a.
mountain. until at about eighty miles
out, the ocean-bottom is more than six
hundred and fifty fathoms from the
surface. This continues forward less
than ten miles. when the depth as
suddenly decreases to not more than
three hundred and fifty fathoms, which
goes SO on only a few miles when it
again deepens to above. five hundred
fathoms, with subsequent fluctuations.
There is, therefore, submerged
mountain peak or ridge between these
points Of truly remarkable character.
The differences in the temperature
vary almost, precisely according to the
change of contour Of the bottom, show
ing thatthe temperture at great depths
IS much modified by the propinquity
II the oceans bed. 1t appears that
he Gulf Stream, whilst certainly not
does not run to the bottom,
or off Cape Florida, at twelve hun
lred fathoms, the water in summer is
# a temperature Of 80 deg. Fahren-
lett, a degree below the average winter
much further north.
Lieut.. Maury followed Prot. Bache
D paper on the same general SUBJ
sct, but having regard to the surface
ather than the depths Of the stream.
lie showed that the stream varies its :
curse according to the season, having
more southerly sweep in winter.
he stream is more rapid off Cape
latteras than Cape Cannaveral, and,
hat is quite remarkable, it never de-
osites the seaweed, ETC., with which
is so plentifully beset on the western
de. 1hls Lieut.. Maury accounted
# by supposing the stream stands
Dove the general level of the ocean,
18th its highest point in the centre or
ks OF the stream, and sloping off like
'e roof ola house each way. This
ream is what modifes so agreeably
Re climate of Western Europe, and at
e same timeis the prolific parent of
gs, if not of storms also. At all r
ents, storms that arise on the coast IL
Africa trailing westward fall into its
duence and sweep around its circuit
was IN this stream that the unhappy
IN Francisco was, on the fatal 26th 4
'cember, and it was along its east = .
'rdly current that the ship drifed. Il,
re Gulf Stream, Notwithstanding its NJ
'gnllude. is asserted BY Lieut. Mau- c;
as being sensibly affected by the p p
charge Of the waters in winter from Of
) Chesapeake, Delaware and Hud co
]. "