New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-29
THE LAW OF STORMS.

THE LAW OF STORMS.
Curious and Instructive Meteerolssic.
Facts Developed by the Governmer
Weather Observations.
From the Scientific Americana
In the fourth meteorological report b
Professor j. p. Epsy, of Washington, d. c
we find the following instructive generaliz:
tons:
l. The rain and snow storms. and eve
the moderate rains and SHOWS. travel frO1
the west toward the east in the Unite
states during the months of November, De
eember, January, FEBRUARY and March
which are the only months to which thes
concentrations apply.
=. The storms are accompanied with a de
preston Of the barometer near the centra
line OF the storm. and a rise Of the barome
ter in the front and rear.
3. This central line of minimum pressure
is generally of great length from north Il
east.
4. This line is sometimes nearly straight
but generally curved, and most frequently
with its convex side toward the east.
s. The velocity of this line is such that il
travels from the Mississippi to the Connect
cut river in twenty -four hours, and from the
Connecticut to St. Johns, Newfoundland, in
an hour.
6. When the barometer falls suddenly in
the western part Of New England, it rises
at the same time in the valley Of the Missis
sippi and also at st. Johns. Newfoundland
Z. In great storms the wind for several
hundred miles on both sides of the line OF
minimum pressure blows toward that line
directly or Obliquely.
s. The force Of this wind is in proportion
70 r1oc ,,I<N o,,l Al. 4
preston of the barometer.
9. In all great and sudden depressiOns of
the barometer there is much rain or snow;
and in all sudden great rains or SHOWS there
is great depression of the barometer next
the centre of the storm, and rise beyond it's
borders.
10. Many storms are of great and un-
known length from north to south, reaching
beyond our observation on the Gulf of
Mexico and on the northern lakes, while
their east and west diameter is compare.
lively small These storms, therefore, move
side foremost.
III. Most storms commence in the far
West, beyond our western borders, but
some commence in the United States.
IL. When storm commences in the
United States the line of minimum pressure
does come from the far West, but COM
mences with the storm, and travels with it
toward the eastward.
ID. There is generally lull of wind at
the line of minimum pressure, and some
times calm.
IL. When this line of minimum pressure
passes an observer toward the east, the
wind generally soon changes to the west
and the barometer begins to rise.
ID. There is generally but little wind
and on each side Of that the winds are
irregular, but tend outward from that line
10. The fluctuations of the barometer are
generally greater in the eastern than in the
western part Of the United States.
IL. The fluctuations of the barometer are
generally greater in the northern than in
the southern part Of the United States.
IL. In he northern parts Of the United
States the wind generally sets in from the
north OF east, and terminates from the north
of west.
Is. In the southern parts of the United
States the wind generally Gets in from the
south Of east, and terminates from the
south of west.
20. During the passage of storms the wind
generally changes from the eastward to the
westward by south. especially in the south
ern parts of the United States.
II. The northern part of the storm general
~ travels more rapidly toward the east than
the southern part.
y. During the high barometer on the day
preceding the storm it is generally clear
and mild in temperature, especially if very
cold weather preceded.
-. The temperature generally falls sud
denly on the passage of the centre of great
storms, SO that sometimes, when a storm is
in the middle of the United States, the low
est temperature Of the month will be in the |
west on the same day that the highest tenn.
perature is in The east
Some Of the storms, it is true, are con- |
tanned entirely, for a time, within the
hounds OF my observers, and in that case
the minimum barometer does not exhibit
itself in line of great length, extending
from north to south, but it is confined to a
region near the centre of the storm. and |
travels with that centre toward the east
ward.
From these experiments it may be safely
inferred, contrary to the general belief of
scientific men, that vapor permeates the air
from high to a low dew point with ex-
IRENE lowness, if, indeed, it permeates it at
all; and in meteorology it will hereafter be
Known that vapOr rises into the regions
where clouds are forced only by being car
led up by ascending currents of air con-
aiming it.