The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-07

American published Dy
George Akerman), print
ed and sold "Wednesday,
January 3, lshb, although
dated saturday, Jan. o.
CLIMATOL0GY.
As the climate OF every
country has an inseparable
relation with the physical
charact.rof its Inhabitants,
the attention OF the govern
ment was directed some few
years since TO the obtain
ing OF correct mcteorologi-
cal ststistics throughout
the whole OF the United
States. For this purpose
the requisite instruments
were directed to be sent to
the different military posts,
In order that regular obser-
vations might be made, and
America contribute her
quota of information TO a
subject which is rapidly
advancing into the dignity
of a science There has
not as yet, however, been
any formal report; but
scattered through the va
rious documents belonging
to the government, as well
as through different scien-
tific works, there are many
facts which afford US a va
rlety of Information, which
partially explains how II IN
that the atmospheric influ.
ences to which we are sub
jectcd have n tendency TO
produce that excessive ner-
yous activity which seems
TO belong peculiarly TO our
people.
The extremes Of heat and
cold do not occur at our
most northern and southern
posts, rs they are situated
on large bodies OF water,
but nj the inland western
stations, and Tor the same
reason, the mean summer
temperature al Augusta,
Ca, is greater than along
the coast of Florida, whilst
at Key West, during the
present year, the thermo-
meter never or rarely rose
above 80 degrees. II at
tained at Council Bluffs, n
point upwards Of IL degrees
further north, a height OF
at least l02 degrees. But
although the thermometer
may, on the whole, be some
few degrees higher here
during the heats of summer
than in most parts Of Eu-
rope, yet we suffer but little
more from It's effects, for as
the air there In more loaded
with humidity, causing a
diminution Of the cntane-
Gus and pulmonary trans
pirations, the evaporation
OF which creates a cooling
process, languor and list
lessness, with an indispo.
sition to mental and corpo.
real exertion, are necessa-
rily induced, which IA rarely
the case here. Neither,
again, do we In winter e2.
pcrience that feeling Of in.
tense cold, even though the
mercury may sink some de-
grees lower, which Is felt
in the damp, humid atmos-
phere " Europe.
Ordinarily We should be
led to suppone that places
In the Fame latitude would
experience the same degree
Of average heat and cold,
but this IS not true as re
CARDS America and Europe,
The Gulf Stream, that
stretches across the Allan
tic between Care IIatteras
and tho A7oror, forming,
nearly in the middle Of the
North Atlantic, a lake Of
warm water, according 10
Rennsll, not much inferior
to the Mediterranean in cK-
tent, has q considers BILE et.
feet on the temperature of
Europe, whilst we, on the
other hand, are subject 10
the influence OF a cold
stream, sweeping immense
masses OF ice into lower
latitudes, breaking upon
our northern coast.
Climate, IL would seem, "a
also considerably influenced
by the chemical and geolo-
gical character 81 the sur.
face ~ the earth. One soil
quickly parts with its ac-
quir, d heat, while another
retains Il. Hence our
neighbors 81 New Jersey
enjoy, owing to their sandy
soil, an average higher tenn
perature than the inhabi-
taDts Of New York, where
the surface consists, In q
great measure 81 clay or
some other compact earth.
One 81 the most striking
peculiarities Of our climate,
however, whom contrnsted
with that 81 Europe, Is the
extreme dryness Of the at.
mospherc; for although we
have as many rainy days,
with the exception, per.
haps, ~ England and Nor.
way, "a occur In Europe
generally, yet our air 20
readily part. with all ~
moisture that no sooner
does II cease raining than
the barometer commences
at once 10 sink. and soon
shows that the atmosphere
Is AZ dry as ever. This er.
tTeme dryness may b. par.
tally explained by the fact
that here, as well a. la
Europe, westsrly WINS pre-
vail, and that while they 60
20 the coasts ~ Europe
loaded with q superahun
dance of moisture, gathered
during their passage across
the Atlantic, they reaeh us
only after passing over a
whole continent, and when
they have necessarily lost
a great portion of their hn
nudity. How far this dry
ness influences the slectfi
cal state of the Atmosphsre
We are unable o. judge
from the reports before us
but should certainly - I'D,
from our own obseryati0ns,
10 consider IL 10 some Dsa
sure the source n much 81
that .ycsssiye nervous &C
tlyity which IL = charAe
ierisiic Of our people, While
II may, too, have partially
assisted In forming that
American type which the
last two hundred years
have undoubtedly pro.
ducsd
A. in that portion ~ the
United States which IL 10
habitsd, the lands already
cleared and cultivated 90
not probably exceed one.
eighth part ef It's sUrfAss,
II necessarily follows that
We shall eventually go our
climate undergo A. great a
change a. that ~ ErgIanf
has undoubtedly done since
tho tins ~ Cgsar Not re
are glsd 70 end government