North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1868-02-19
Chan ges Of Ciim ate ON tho E.rsh.

Cuau 8eo OF CAlmot0 ON the Earth.
1t is now pretty we'll established that
the earth has two more motions than its
diurnal and annual. First, there is the
diurnal motion, in which the globe turns
on its axis every twenty.four hours, caus.
ing day and night. Second, there is the
revolution round the sun, which takes
365 days, 5 hours, 4S minutes and SIT
seconds to accomplish. Third, the molten
OF the whole solar system in space, that is,
the earth, with all the planets and stars,
moving around what is supposed to be a
| central snn. Fourth, a motion in which,
through long period Of years, the poles
OF the earth are changed, the equatorial
region in time becoming the polar region,
and rice rerso.
Through the influence Of this motion
we Of the temperate zone are gradually
approaching the equator; indeed, it can
be shown from history taking given zone,
that it has become warmer as time ad.
vances. Many trees and plants--the vine
and olive for instance--Aourish in places
where two thousand years ago they did
mot grow. The change is so gradual and
so slow that the longest lived being can
not perceive it; but that the climate
change takes place is very evident, never
theless. Another evidence is adduced in
the popularity of the animals, the remains
Of which have been found in the polar
regions, which only have existed when
that region had much more equatorial
bearing than it has at present. The proof
that tropical plants grew there is also un-
disputed. The bearing of ancient Chris
tian churches, which were invariably built
facing east and west, but which now differ
materially from those points, is said to be
another proof of this terrestrial change
The phenomenon called the precesti N
Of Ae equinox, in virtue of which the
| first point of Aries recedes upon the eclip-
tic about fifty seconds a year, gradually
causing a complete change in the seasons
and, counting from any given time, there
must elapse at least Il GOO years before
the season can return to precisely the
same period Of the year. 1t has been as
certained, SO it is asserted, that up to the
year l24S of the Christian era, year in
which the first day of winter precisely CO.
incided with the earths passage through
its perihelion, the temperature of TIE
southern hemisphere had been in constant
course of diminution. And it is, more
over, made plain, according to the calcu
Iation, that after the lapse Of l0.5OO years
the seasons of our globe viii be exactly
| reversed.
Therefore, about 10 500 years before the
year l24S, or about 900 years before
the present time, it was the north pole,
and not Its opposite one, which wasjn its
maximum of refrigeration our present
continents We're then submerged, accord
ing to the Mosaic account of the deluge-
not, however, chronologically considered,
if we interpret the Bible too literally, as
many who interpret it for themselves often
do-and there were continents unknown
to us in the southern hemisphere. And
again, by the same astronomical and nat.
ural laws, lO,5O0 years after the last cat
aclysm a new one will occur, which will
again submerge the northern hemisphere,
and allow new world to emerge from the
southern ocean.
| 1t is with this motion of the earth we
have to deal when treating on the deluvi-
an phenomena.-DsBor' Rerie,v.