Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-07-21
The Heavens and the Earth - Discerning
the "Facen Of the Sky.

others think so little of what think so
much every time | open morning paper,
that so little is said or written on the sub
ject of "storm science?n Or is it true that
the earth proper has more than enough
adhering to its surface to engage almost all
our attention? Perhaps / am little wild
on the subject referred to. If SO, that will
be a good reason for eXcusing me for what
| | may say.
Some twenty years ago my attention was
| attracted by a newspaper article based on
| the theory of an experienced English sea
| captain, touching the theory of storms.
| The point that struck my mind with
| greatest force was that a storm was raging
| at some point or place in the world all the
| time; and, that there were certain laws
which, if we could learn and observe them,
| would keep us as well advised of the place,
progress and destination of storms as are
our commercial men posted on the subject
of markets. ........ ......
My thoughts on the subject were actively
reproduced by a series of articles in Scrib-
ner's Non thIy for the early months of this
year. presenting the "Sea Captains"
theory in quite a practical form. 1t was
we'll exhibited in the form of maps and
diagrams I; and, to make the risk of trying
| to state in few words, the substance of the
much that was ably presented, / will say,
that strong or heavy pressure of the at
| mosphere at any given point is at the ex-
pense of a light or rare atmosphere around
| that point Taking, then, the place of
| greatest atmospheric pressure, and describ-
| ing a circle about itso as to embrace fully
| all the area of strong pressure, and that
| circle will constitute the inside margin of
a circular belt upon some part of which
storm is prOgressing-its force and vio-
| lencce depending upon the measure ofpres-
sure and the length of time it has contin-
1. Ill, q 4 sAo,,.
Why the course of a storm on such circle
is in direction as adverse to the move
ment of the hands of a watch, north
of the equator, and with the hands of the
watch south of the equator are two very
| interesting questions. Theoretical writers,
| thus far, have scarcely undertaken, but
not succeeded i'll giving a satisfactory ex-
| PLANTATION, r.r. .r--r
If space would admit would like to pre-
sent my theory on both but 1 will only
make a comprehensive reference to the
first. The action of the upper and lower
Trade Winds upon columns of air rising
rapidly under the influence of evaporation
and heat, is manifestly the cause of the air
being thrown into circles. The upper and
lower stratas of air being cut and drifted
in contrary directions; and then, what is
| singular, a section of air at given place
| being set in motion seems to provide for its
1
| But however this may be, the fact isknOwn
| that atmosphere runs in circles-whirl-
winds on large scale. When the volume
of circularly moving air is large-broad
and high-the tendency is to pack and
compress the air about the place of the cir
| cIes center: and for the same reason, the
the atmosphere about, and just in front of
| the actively moving column, is quite rare
the upper strata having been drawn Oft
to supply what we may style a partial vac
uum in the rear of the column. This
rare section of atmosphere is in the form of
an inverted cone, so to speak, it represents
| the form of basin, down into which ma
| turally flow and gather the vapors of all
/ the adjacent higher regions. and have
| themselves poured out as the contents of
| the bosom of the storm.
| But to keep within the bounds of brief
letter, L must drop the subject-or let it
drop me-only adding that the eminent
success of the system of reports from storm
signal stations in the United States for the
past few months, leads me to make this
prediction: The day is not far distant
when our morning papers-the CHRONICLE
prominent among the number-from
Bangor to "Sitka" will publish each
day revised map of the Heavens; repre-
senting a concave, and pointing out the
places where storms or clouds have pre-
vailed during the proceeding twenty-four
hours, and the places of their probable
visit for twenty-four hours to come.
Possibly you may smile at my sugges-
ton, if YOU do, few moments reflection
will cause you to grow serious, and you
will say ''Well indeed is not such both
possible and probable ?n LIMERICK"