Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-11-22
F.sCTS .GBOUT sTOR.us.

a vast amount of infor nation is constant
ly being gathered and collated by the Uni
ted States Signal Service respecting storms,
out of which is being gradually built up
the true science of that class of meteorolog-
ical pheno mena. Among the general OBJ
servations thus far noted may be mention
ed the following:
storms are accompanied with depres-
sion of the barometer near the central line
of the storm, and rise of the barometer in
the front and rear.
This central line of minimum pressure is
generally of "A great length from North to
South, and moves side-foremost toward the
sea.
This line is sometimes nearly straight,
but generally curved, and most frequently
with its convex side toward the East.
The velocity of this line is such that it
travels from the Mississippi to the Connec-
ticut river in about twenty four hours, and
from the Connecticut to st. Johns, New
foundland in nearly the same time, or a.
bout thirty-six miles an hour.
When the barometer falls suddenly in
Weste rn part of New England, it rises at
sippi, and also at st. Johns, Newfound-
land.
In great storms the wind for several hum
dred miles on both sides of the line of mini
mum pressure blows toward that line di-
rectly or obliquely.
The force of the wind is in proportion to
the suddenness and greatness of the depres-
sion of the barometer.
In all great and sudden depressions of
the barometer there is much rain or snow
and in all sudden great rains or snow there
is great depression of the barometer near
the center of the storm, and rise beyond
its borders.
Many storms are of great and unknown
length from North to South, reaching be-
yond our observers on the Gulf OF Mexico
and on the Northern lakes, while their
East and West diameter is comparatively
small. The storms therefore noue side
foremost
Most storms commence in the "far West"
beyond our most Western observers but
some commence in the United States.
When a storm commences in the United
States the line Of minimum pressure does
not come from the "far West" but COM
mences with the storm, and travels with 1t
toward the Eastward.
There is generally a lull OF wind at the
line of minimum pressure, and sometimes
a calm.
When this line of minimum pressure
passes an observer toward the East, the
wind generally soon changes TO the West,
and tho har bauipS IN riva
There is generally but little wind near
the line of maximum pressure; and on
each side of that line the winds are irregu-
lar, but tend outward from that line.
The fluctuations Of the barometer are
generally greater in the Northern and the
Western parts of the United States.
In the Northen parts of the United States
the wind generally, in great storms sets in
from the North of East and terminates
from the North OF West; and in the South
ern parts 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 from the Eastward to
the Westward by the South, especially in
the Southern parts of the United States.
The Northern part of the storm general
ly travels more rapidly toward the East
than the Southern part.
During the high barometer of the day
preceding the storm il is generally clear and
mild in temperature, especially ii very cold.
The temperature generally falls sudden
ly on the passage of the center of great
storms and sometimes, when a storm is
in the middle ofthe 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.
The first of the principles upon which
the Signal Corps proceeds is, that the in
variable course of air currents is such as
will equalize the atmospheric pressure up
on the earth's surface, and that whenever
inequalities exist the winds are set in mo-
ton, the air thus finding its level-just as
water or any other visible fluid does.