The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-10-23
Maine Climate.

Mr.. EDITOR The east and northeast winds
that until within a few days have been prevail
ing with Characteristic constancy and asperity,
have forcibly brought to mind that somewhat
unfortunate combination of geographical con-
ditions which give to the climate of the North
Atlantic coast, and of Maine and the outlying
provinces to the east in particular, its unenvia-
BILE celebrity. t3fath sfa ~ h.t
1t is we'll known that there are four districts
upon the earths surface characterized by
marked deficiency of heat relative to the lati-
tude, and which therefore are called regions of
reldtive cold. Tive of these are situated in the
northern hemisphere one in Siberia, whose de-
feet of heat at its central point situated not far
from Yakoutsk, is 10 degrees, and here accord
dinghy the ground is frozen permanently to a
depth exceeding GOO feet, and the mean tenn
perature for the year is about Oo ilta
The focus of the second district Of relative
cold, is situated on the northeast corner of
Hudson's Bay, its mean deficit of temperature
being 13o, 1t is obvious that districts encom-
passing this centre OF deficient warmth, win be
affectediby corresponding deficiency proper
TONED to their geographic proximity to the TO-
Gus. Accordingly the circle or oval drawn
about the focus, marking an annual deficit of
1-2 degrees passes through Quebec, and
that of 8 IL degrees through Portland,
nearly. In other words, our mean annual
temperature, is 1-2deg lower than could legit-
mately be anticipated for the latitude; and this,
taken in connection with the fact that our tenn
perature is determined to be low by the latitude,
irrespective of any other influences, becomes
matter of no inconsiderable importance
Henceit is, that though located below the
44th parallel, our climate for the year is colder
than that of Bergen, Norway, or Stockholm,
Sweden, and is about as cold as that of St Pc
tersburg, the first mentioned of which is above
the 61st parallel But even this fact fails to
bring out in full the real severity four climat-
ic conditions; for Our mean temperature low as
u Is, succeeds IN arriving at SO tolerable fig
ure only in virtue ofoccasional terrific summer
heats, which although they help elevate the
annual temperature to a respectable point
when measured by the thermometer, do not
contribute to the actual temperatures of the
climate or to human comfort; as all will &C
knowledge who survived the terrible heat-sto,m
prevailing here last summer from June 10th to
July 18th. In fact, with the single exception
or rather parallel oftlle northwest coast of Pat
agonia, there is no region ON the globe, in cor
responding ATTITUDES, in which q climate pre-
walls, marked in equal degree by extreme in
tensities OF temperature and by asperity of
oceanic influences, with that which obtains
the nOrth-Atlantic coast from Labrador to Cape
Cod. baa 9lf n48asl ,JIe naal so III
This peculiar inhospitality Of climate is due
to our location on the leeward side of the con-
tinent in the latitudes of prevalent westerly
winds; in consequence of which we experience
alternately the intense summer heat and win
ter cold of the sun-burned and snow-covered
interior. 1t is due, secondly, to the delivery of
the whole circulation of the Arctic Ocean up
ON and along our northeastern continental
frontier. All the water that escapes from the
refrigerating basin of the north-polar ocean.
including that which is poured into it between
Iceland and Norway and through Behring's
Straits, is ultimately, having first become re-
duced to icy temperature and become laden
with fields, packs and bergs of ice, poured in
constant and voluminous current into Hud-
sons Bay ard upon the shores of Labrador
and Newfoundland, and thence down the U1ks.
ted States coast as an in-shore cold drift. TG&l
polar out-drift knows no cessation 1t never
takes any other course. Its first and select
est influences are bestowed upon US; some of
which we have been in the recent enjoyment
of, as invalids bear in mind. goo
But, sir, bad as our condition is, we barely
escape having it great deal worse. Were not
the prevalent winds of our ATTITUDES west, the
polar drift would force passage with its ice in
to the great bay between Nova Scotia and
Cape Cod in much greater volume and with
greater rapidity, and would affect our climate
with true hyperborean seventies. So that we
have occasion not only for coincidence but also
congratulation in all our multifarious COM
munings together upon rhe weather. rs
- Yours truly, f
~ Fl Be- tHfr-.. y. WALTER WELLS