The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1856-09-10
Influence of the Gulf Steam upon
Climates.

ulAuR1. III nJsf
cal Geography of the Sea-" devotes a
chapter to the discussion of this inter-
csting subject, and clearly explains the
reasons why the climate of Great Brit
ain, Western Europe and the North At
lantic Ocean is so much more genial than
that of the same latitudes upon the Amer.
lean continent. He says that the Gulf
Strcam is nothing more than the con-
ducting pipe Of an immense heating ap-
paratus, of which the torrid zone is the
furnace aud the Mexican Gulf and Ca
rbbeau Sea are the caldrons The max
imum temperature of the waters in the
Caribbean Sea and tho Gulf of Mexico
in ninety degrees That of the Gulf
Stream when it leaves tho Gulf is eigh
ty-six, or about nine degrees above that
Of the ocean III the same latitude. In
creasing its latitude ten degrees, it loses
but two degrees of temperature, and af-
ter having run three thousand miles to-
wards the north, it still preserves, even
in winter, the heat of summer. With
this temperature it crosses the fortieth
degree of north latitude, aud then, over
flowing its liquid banks. spreads itself
out for thousands Of square leagues over
the cold waters around, and covers the
ocean with mantle of warmth Nov
ing more slowly, but dispensing its &c.
NAL influence more freely,it finally reach
es the British Islands, and dividing, one
part goes into the polar basin of Spitz-
bcrgan, and the other enters the Bay Of
Biscay, each with warmth considerable
above the ocean tcmpeature.
Such an immense volume of heated
water must inevitably carry it beyond
the sea a mild and moist climate. Ev
cry west wind that blows across the
stream. on its way to Europe. carries
with it part of its heat to temper there
the Northern winds of winter. It is the
influence of this stream upon climate,
that makes Erin the emerald island Of
the sea. and clothes the shores of Albion
carries drift wood from the West Indies
to the Orkney Islands. and its genial in
fuence among those Islands, at the lati
tnde Of sixty degrees. is said to such
that the ponds in them are seldom froz-
en- in winter. Liverpool, which is two
degrees north of the harbor of St. Johns
in Newfoundland, is comparatively warm
and pleasant Lieutenant Maury esti-
mates that if the temperature and veloc-
ity of the gulf stream are the same at
depth of two hundred fathoms, as they
are at the surface, the quantity of heat
discharged over the Atlantic, from its
waters, in winters day, would be sufi'
cicnt to raise the whole column of at
mosphere that rests upon Franco and
the British Islands, from the freezing
point to summer heat.
But the beneficial effects Of the Gulf
Stream are not confined to the diffusion
of warmth in those parts Of the surface
of the earth which it traverses aud all
wise Providence has made it a vehicle
for conveying away the surplus heat Of
Central America and Mexico, which
would otherwise make the low lands of
those countries the hottest and perhaps
the most pestilental region in the world
The heated waters Of the Caribbean
Sea and Gulf of Mexico are carried off
ny Tue puIl plttuiii, uuu tHci' pIuOo
supplied by constant flow of cooler wa
ter from the ocean depths A calcu,a-
ton based upon the difference in the
temperatures of the waters which enter
the Gulf of Mexico and those which
flow from it in the Gulf Stream, shows
that the quantities of specific heat daily
carried off by this huge river, and dis
charged over the Atlantic, is sufficient
to raise mountains, Of iron from zero to
the melting point, and to keep in flow
from thcm molden stream Of metal,
greater in volume than the waters dis
charged from the mouth Of tho Mssis-
sippi river. Who can calculate the be-
nigh influence of this wonderful current
upon the climate Of tie South?
Lieutenant Maury says that the Gulf
Stream is also the great weather breed
er of the North Atlantic ocean. The
most furious gales sweep along il, and
doubtless the fogs Of Newfoundland
which endanger navigation iu winter, owe
their existence to the presence OF its vol
umes of warm water. Iuquilies were
set on foot some years ago by the Brit
ish Admiralty as to the cause of disas'
trous storms in certain parts of the At
lantic resulted in the conclusion that
they are occasoned by the d. ference be-
tween the temperature of the GuIfStream
and that of the ncighboriug regions,
The course of many gales has been ira
ced from the place of their origin direct
ly to tho Gulf Stream They have been
known to take their rise upon the coast
of Africa as far down as the parallel of
ten or fifteen degrees north latitude
and crossing the ocean TO the Gulf Stream
turn about, and travelling along its
course, recross the Atlantic, and so reach
the shores of Europe, The tracks Of
storms have been traced out and follow
cd in this way for week or ton days,
and their paths are marked by ship
wreck aud disaster. Philosophers have
never been able to satisfactorily explain
why these storms almost always travel
towards the Gulf Stream, and then join.
ing it, sweep along its current. Even
Maury attcmps to offer no solution of
the mystery,
In Spain religious matters are asSu
Mug hopeful aspect. The law which