Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-04-11
MISCELLANEOUS READING,
THE GULF STREAM.

As the best known and longest studied of
oceanic currents, the Gulf Stream affords us
a perfect picture of the other, perhaps great
er, but less appreciated riyerset warm and
cold water which traverse our seas. Heated
IN tropical furnace to about 8G degrees
Fahrenheit, a current of hot water, with
sharply-defned edge on either side, and flow
ing over cushion of cold water running down
from the arctic zone, rushes with a force
equal to that of the Gulf of Mexico, along the
shores of the Flcridas. There curving upon
great arc to north-eastward, it flows
three miles, into the 10th degree OF north
latitude; yet such is the volume of that heat
ed water, that its temperature through so
long a journey only falls to SO degrees or "a
degrees. In that latitude the Gulf Stream
overtiowsits banks, and asring out..ove many
thousand square leagues, diminishing much
In heatand velocity, yet reaches our shores,
retaining enough of the former to rescue us
from the horrors of Labrador climate-to
keep our seas open up to the Goth degree of
latitude, when, on the opposite side of the
Atlantic the American continent is sealed
up with ice, $50 miles south of the Orkneys;
and that warm current of water causes the
vapor-laden atmosphere of Britain, which,
although much abused, is still, We believe,
preferable to the six months Of frost to which
Canada and Russia are subjected in similar
latitudes. Such torrent of hot water trav
ersing the Atlantic wastes naturally occa-
sions great perturbations of the atmosphere,
and the Gulf Stream may Justly be called "a
foul weather breeder" The English trader
knows this well, but it must come much
nearer home to the American navigator, be-
cause on either quitting or sailing towards
his shores, he has invariably to traverse the
Gulf Stream; and stretch across belt of cold
water, the arctic current, which interyenes
between it and his home There, and espec-
tally in the winter season, the storm cyclone,
and cross-currents raise such sea as shat
ters the best found barque, and tests the skill
and hardihood of the seaman. From New
York to the bay of Chesapeake, snow storms
and gales are encountered which mock all
human skill and nerve. The trader from
the Pacific or China finds hersclfin few
hours an ice-encumbered wreck, with the
crew paralyzed by cold, and, but for the be-
neticent Gulf Stream, would assuredly be lost.
Then the cunning master-mariner, undis-
mayed by the battle Of the elements, occa-
stoned by the contact of the Gulf Stream with
the arctic current, turns his ships prov again
towards the former, and confidently steers to-
wards it's well-detined limits. His barque
reaches its edge, and almost at a bound pas
ses from the midst Of winter into sea ut
summcr-heat. Now the ice disappears from
her apparel: the sailor bathes his stittened
limbs in tepid water. Feeling himself in
vigorated and refreshed with the genial
warmth about him, he realises, out there OF
sea, the fable of Antaus and mother Earth.
lie rises up and attempts to make his port
again, and is again. perhaps, as rudely met
and beat back to the northwest; but each
time that he is driven of he comes forth
from this stream, like the ancient son of Nep-
tune, stronger and stronger, until, after
many days, he at last triumphs and enters
his haven in safety, though in his contest he
sometimes falls to rise no more; for it is terri
Rlackwood's Magazine for March.