Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-09-27
THE Law OF STORMS.
Curious and Instructive meteorological
acts Developed by the Government
Weather Observations.
Frnm - sclenEIfe Amerlcan. B

From the Scientific Americana
In the fourth meteorological report
by Prot. J. P. Epsy, Of Washington
d. c., We find the following instrue-
tive generaliZ3tions:
l. TIE rain and snow storms, and
even the moderate rains and snO = s,
travel from the west toward the east
in the United States, during the
months OF November, December,
January, February and March, which
are the only months TO which these
QeueraliZalOns apply.
,. The storms are accompanied with
q depression Of the barometer near the
central line Of the storm, and rise of
the barometer in the front and rear.
3. This central line of minimum
vrpssu @ Is generally Of great length
from north TO south, and moves side
foremost toward the east.
5. This line is sometimes nearly
straight, bUt generally curved, and
most frequently with its convex side
toward the east.
5. The velocity Of this line is such
III j travels nom the Mississippi to
the Connecticut river in twen.y-fOuT
hours, and from the Connecticut TO
81 Jcvhu, newfoundland, in nearly
the same, or about thirty six miles an
hour.
8 When the barometer falls sud-
denly in tire western part Of New
EngisnG, it rises at the same time 10
the valley OF the Mississippi, and also
at St John, Newfoundland,
Z. In great storms the wind for sew
.aral hundred miles on both sides Of
the line of minimum pressure blows
toward that line directly or Obliquely.
8 The force OF this wind is in pro
portion 70 the sUddenness and great
ness Of the depression Of the barome-
ter.
9. In ell great and sudden depres-
sio,ls Of the barometer there is much
rain or sEow; and in all sudden great
rains Cr SHOWS there is 3 great depres-
sion Of he barometer next the centre
OF the storm, and rises beyond its bOT-
ders.
10. Many storms are Of great and
unknown length from north to south,
reaching beyond our observation on
the Gull OF Mexico and on the north
ern lakes, while their east and west
diameter is comparatively small.
These storms, therefore, move side
foremost.
II. Most storms commence in the
t'fsr West" beyond our western bOr-
aders, but some commence in the Uni
ted States.
u. When 8 storm commences in
the United States the line of minimum
pressgre does not commence at the
-stfar West" but commences with the
storm and travels with it toward the
eastward.
I3. There is generally lull Of wind
At the line Of minimum pressure, and
sometimes a calm.
IA. When this line Of minimum
pressure passes an observer toward
the east, the wind generally soon
changes to the west and the barOme
ter begins 10 rise.
10 There is generally but little wind
near the lire Of the maximum press
ure and on each side Of the line the
winds are irregular, but tend outward
from that line.
16. The fluctuations of the barome.
ter are generally greater in the east
ern than in the western part Of the
United States.
II. The fluctuations Of the bsrome-
Ter are generally greater in the north
ern than in the southern part OF the
United States.
Is In the northern part Of the Uni
tel States the wind generally sets in
from the north Of east, and terminates
from the North Of west.
l9. In the southern part OF the Uni
ted States the wind generally sets In
from the sOuth Of east, and terminates
from the south OF west.
%. During the passage OF storms
the wind generally changes nom the
eastward TO the westward by south,
especially in the southern parts OF the
United States.
2l. The northern part Of the storm
travels more rapidly toward
the east than the southern part.
p Daring the high barometer on
the day preceding the storm IL Is gen
eralIy clear and mild in temperature,
especially if very cold weather prece-
ded.
%. The temperature generally falls
on the passage Of the centre
of great storms, so tnat sometimes,
when a storm is in the middle Of the
Upited States, the lowest temperature
OF the month will be IN the west on
the same day that the highest temper
ature il ia the east.
Some OF the storms, it IS true, are
entirely, for time, within
:, = bounds Of my observers, and In
me ~sse the minimum barometer
.hat exhibit itself ia line OF
does hot extending from north to
sreat lens confined to a region
3outn' put II = = the storm, and
1eSI Irsvels siiS with that cen.'ef toward the
eastward. -. II mav he
safely inferred, contrary to the general glS.
belief of scientific men, that !. EaPO1 ~ !
Dermeates the air from a high 70 low
5eu Ia noint with extreme siowness, y,
hSS inGeed, PIi' Il permeates i at all; and in IN
In meieoroIogy it viii hereaiter De
known that vapor rises INTO into the the Fe- re-
gions where clouds a, are eascendi1S lUssod T cur
being carried up Dy ascehuiAA
,-,.,fS - cir containing 10.