The Weekly comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1853-1855, 1854-05-21
TIM DUR SrREan-At Il recent

was read on the distribution of tenn
peratufc in and near the Calf Stream
Off the coas' Of the nitel States, from
observations made IN the Coast SUI
vey by Prof DhcuE
This was lstfatod by u number
Of ingebious charts, drawn to exhibit
the varying temperatures Of the sen at
regular distances trom the coast to
about four hundred miles enstwardiy
in the Atlantic Many interesting
facts were developed, aud some con
siderable approach made towards dis
covering the laws to which these vari-
h'ions Of temperature are subject.
Some remarks were made on the form
| OF tho floor or the bottom Of the ocean
gong TO show that along our coast
some extraordinary depreseions exist.
For instance, Oh tie seward line
abreast u Charleston, from the shore
TO sixty miles out, the depth increases
pretty gradually, ill at that distance
1t has acquired a depth Of one hundred
fathoms. i;ut it soon deopens with
great 1apI1ify, as it On the side Of o
mountain, until at about eighty miles
out. the ocean bottom ia more than six
hundred and fifty fathoms from the
surface This continues forward less
than ten miles, Hben the depth as
suddenly decreases to not more then
three hundred aud fifty futhoms, which
goes 50 Oh onl y few miles when it
again dcepens to above five hundred
fathotUs, With subsequent tluctuations
There is therefore, submerged
mountain peak or ridge between these
points Of IA truly remarkable character
The differences in the temperature
vary almost precisely according to the
change Of contour Of the bottom, SHOW
ing that the tenperture at great depths
is much modified by the propluquity
of the oceans bed 1t appears that
the Gulf Stream, whilst certainly not
superficial, does not run to the bottom,
for off Capo Florida, at twelve hun
dred fathoms, tho water in summer is
ola temperature Of SO deg. Fahrep-
heit, degree below the average winter
temperature much further north
Lieut.. Maury followed Prof Bache
In . paper on the same general sub
ject, but having regard to the surface
rather than The depths Of the stream.
lie showed that the stream varies its
course according 10 the season, having
more southerly sweep in winter
The stream Is more rapid off Cape |
llatteras than Cape Cannaveral, and, |
what is quite remarkable, it never de-
posltes the seaweed, etc, with which
it is so plentifully besct on the western
side. This Lieut.. Maury accounted
for by supposing the stream. stands
above the general level Of the ocean,
with its highest point in the centre or
axis OF the stream, and sloping off like
Tue root Oh house each way, Ibis
stream is what modiGes SO agreeably
the climate Of Western Europe, and at
the same time is the profile parent Of
fogs, if not Of storms also. AZ all
events, storms that arise on the coast
Of Africa trailing westward fall into its
influence and sweep around its circuit.
1t was IN this stream that the unhappy
.Sam Fra1,cisco was, on the fatal 18th
December, and it was along it's east
wardly current that the ship drfed.
The Gulf Stream, Notwithstanding its
magnitude, is deserted by Lieut.. Mau-
ry as being sensibly affected by the
discharge of the waters in winter from
the Chesapeake, Delaware and Hud
son.