The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-11-30
The Great November Atmospheric Ware.

One of the most interesting and import
ant of physical phenomena has lately been
brought to light by the researches of the
Signal Office. This meteorologic phenom-
enon is one which has long been recognized
as confined to the British Islands and Yves
tern Europe, and has been designated as
"the great November atmospheric wave"
Sir John Herschel, in 1863, described it Us
"that great periodical phenomenon whose
recurrence is beginnng to be recognized as
Que of the features OF our European wealth
er.table-a vast and considerably well de-
fined atmospherical disturbance, peculiar,
it would seem, to this portion ofthe globe. -
The Signal Service reports now show that
our continent, as well as Europe, is visited
by this wave, and that, henceforth, we may
regard it's recurrence as distinct feature
of climate.
The first chronicled account of this per-
iodic meteor was from the pen of Defoe, in
1903, describing the great British tempest
of Nov. 26, in which the air was seen g full
of meteors and vaporious fires" several
thousand houses were demolished, and
proud structure of the Eddystone light
house, with its confident engineer, were
blown into the sea. In November, 18Th,
two English transports, then in East In
dian waters were overtaken by the same
great disturbance, and thrown up among
mangroves of the Andaman Islands, TWEEN
ty feet above the high-tide level. No doubt
it was this same fearful and overpowcriug
force which shook the continent of Europe
on Nov. II, 1866, and but for timely tel
egram pre-announcing the approaching
hurricane, in its sweep over the Black Sea,
would have sent the allied fleet to the bot
no
Crimean war.
The view entertained by Ilerschel. that
this aerial billow is peculiar to Europe, is
thus demonstrated to be erroneous It
appears, from the late Washington meteor
illogical reports, that the crest, Of this
movement oversweeps our continent be-
tween Oregon and British Columbia, or is
split in twain on the mountains of the Pa
citic Coast-one part being forced due east
over Sonther Oregon to Northern Wyom-
ing and Colorado; the other DETECTED
through the great geographic troughs or
depressions of the Rocky Mountain chain,
which extends from Pugets Sound to the
Columbia River, and thence eastward, over
Washington Territory, Idaho. and Noun
tana. 1t is evident that the climate effect
of such a vast movement must be very
great, especially when we remember that
i is propagated in the axial line Of that
vaster band of westerly wind which comes
from the warm. smoking waters of the
Western Pacific, and which is thus the
great moderator and nlollitier of the VIM
tiers of the Pacific States and the tier of
our extreme North western Territories.
The philosophy of this atmospheric wave
is still a mystery with the meteorologiSts,
but the phenomenon itself is unquestiona-
ably extended, with numerous. successive
aerial undnlations. through the Winter.
Bearing within itself the evaporation of an
ocean, it is easy to see that, when it breaks
over the cold SUBMITS and peaks of the
Rocky Mountains, it affords Il proximate
cause for the terrific snow-fails, such as
were experienced last year along the lofty
mountain windings of the Union and Cen
trail Pacific Railroads. These "icy pima
cles of cold sublimity" not only condense
the warm. vapor- laden air into avalanches
of snow, but serve to tilt or defect the cur
rent upward, when it is still further chill
ed by freer radiation into space, calling
forth fresh and exhaustive crystalline con-
Gensation, and the consequent liberation Of
vast quantities of latent heat. 1t Is, doubt
less, this liberated heat, or the warmed,
snow-robbed air, which, being borne north
eastward in the general air current, at
least in part, explains the existence OF the
..Mild Winter Belt or 81 Fertile Belt, y rs
Mr.. Elodget, the climatologist, calls it, iy-
ing north, east Of the highest peaks and
ranges III Idaho and Montana, and extend
ing to the savannas' of the AttahaSca and
Saskatchewan Rivers.
1t is probable that the arrival of this great
wave Of atmosphere, after its condensation
on the highest ridges OF the Rocky Noun
tains, will bring to us drier and Wintry
weather. The discovery of such q pine
nomenon is of infinitely greater Importance
to US than the finding of a dozen asteroids
by the astronomer, and will invest the al
ready splendid researches of the Storm and
Weather Bureau with universal interest
and practical popular, as well as scientific,
Importance. The Government, it is to be
hoped. will provide more literally for the
prosecution of its beneiicient labors.
n. 7. T5a2es.