Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-04-09
Written for the Chrcnicls.
THE GULF STREAM.

Gulf Of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean,
between the island of Cuba and the Pc
ninsula of Florida passes thence along
the entire eastern coast of the United |
States, and, finally, looses itself in the
waters of the ocean, little beyond the |
grand bank of Newfoundland.
Some theoriers have supposed it to be |
the outlet Of a subterranean passage un-
der the isthmus Of Tehuantepec, by
which the waters of the Pacific are ad-
mitted into the Gulf of Mexico; others
have attributed it to the waters of the
Mississippi, and other streams flowing
into the gulf !; while in late number of
the Scientific american. it is asserted to
be caused by the waters of the Amazon
of South America. The waters of this
river, after flowing a thousand miles d.
rectly under the equator, receive great
er degree of warmth than the waters of
the ocean, and from its great size--being
16O miles wide at its mouth-it pushes
out into the ocean in an almost undi-
vided stream for upwards of 100 miles,
when, from the action of the trade winds,
they are carried into the the great bay
between North and South America, and
discharged in the manner above de-
scribed.
These theories are all unsatisfactory,
although the last two suggest causes
which may have an auxiliary influence on
its productions.
We opine that tie Gulf Stream may
be mainly attributed to the earth's di-
urnal motion. This motion gives the
earth about the equatorial region ve-
loci;y of over one thousand miles an
hour. The less solid parts-as the water
and air, do not Immediately partake of
this motion. This fact. together with
the tendency of air 10 seek the point of
greatest rarefactions, reveals the cause
of the " Trade Winds" The former,
namely, the diurnal motion of the earth,
causes a current OF air in a westerly di-
rection the latter causes two currents |
in opposit4 directions-the one composed 1
of air for 80 degrees north of the equa-
tor, which has southerly direction, the
other formed of the air within the same
distance south rushing northwar1-both
seek the point of the greatest heat and
rarefaction--the equator. Thus we see
the two causes combined give the north
ern wind a south. westerly direction, anil
the southern a north-westerly one. The
"Trade Winds" then, if acting alone on
the waters Of the Amazon would drive
them directly back towards the mouth of
the river. Hence we conclude that the
american" hypothesis is, in the main,
incorrect.
By examining the map of the world,
It will be found that Cape St. Rogue,
the most easterly point of South Ameri-
ca, lies, in about 5 degrees south lati-
tude, and that from this cape, that part [
Of the coast lying toward North America .
runs a north westerly course to the Ca
ribbean Sea, distance Of $500 miles.
rhe southern coast bears to the south ,
vest, in very similar manner. 1t has
been already remarked that the eaith's
liurnal motion gives to the waters of the s
ocean, as well as TO the air, an apparent
westerly motion. This motion, in con-
lect;on with the trade winds, and the
ide from the east, cause the waters of !
he Atlantic to divide on Cape St. Rogue,
part moving almost imperceptibly TO the I
South the rest including the waters of I
he Amazon and Orinoco, are forced con- {
inually forward into the Caribbean Sea, 9
md from thence into the Gulf of Mexi- I
%, where they rise many feet higher I
han the waters of the Pacific on the op- 4
,osite side of the iSthmus. The main !
'utlet for this vast surplus of water, to- e
rether with that of the streams flowing !;
Iirectly into the gulf, is the open space
,etween Cuba and Florida, and in issuing +,
rom this the the stream is turned north
7ard by the Bahamas. This course is
until coming in contact with
be tide wave from the North Atlantic, .
is thrown of, as above. =
Owing to the tendency which the wa :
ers. as well as the more solid parts of :
ne earth have towards the equator ID
aused by the rapid rotary motion of the s
arth on its axis, it is-not impossible that -
,e waters of this stream, after becoming "
idistineuishable of the coast of the !"
ri;ish Isles, may again resume south sC
-ly direction, reunite with the waters of IN
ie torid zone, reentsr the Gulf, and SC
gain become part of this never end
g stream. m
The influences Of the Gulf Stream are 70
.rious. Moving northwest as it does, fir
helps to swell the tide wave from the
nth, which, meeting that from the %
nth, causes the tremendous spring tide y
the Bay of Fundy, the average height
which is II feet. Passing on from