The New York herald., 1874-12-24

explorer is pushing his way to the interior.
Whoever admires courage and devotion will
join with US in wishing him hearty God |
speed.
Recent Researches In the Physics of
tho Sea.
Among the many physical Investigations OF
modern science few equal in Importance and
world wide interest that which is occupied
with the meteorology of the ocean. Recently.
under the auspices of the London Board OF
Trade, a publication has appeared summa-
rizing the labors of British observers in part
of the tropical sea, which furnishes data for
the solution of several great marine problems
on which the world has long waited for light
Many years ago this investigation was origi-
mated and extensively pursued by the United
States, with a rich harvest OF results. Subse-
quently England took up the same investiga-
ton, and, employing her large commercial
marine for gathering information, she has
lowly but surely laid another course in the
edifce of ocean science Of which the United
States laid the promising foundation.
UAlA4A thC AnoU 0oA yCho WIG PAAAooOPhy "a
ocean currents, first clearly brought to light
by the United States National Observatory
and Coast Survey researches, has been under
going severe scientific discussion, and espe-
cially that portion which related to the eli
matte influence of the great warm currents
like the Gulf Stream. Not few eminent sci
entists have discarded the deduction which
the American researches seemed to establish,
that the warm currents are controlling factors
of climate on the continents which they wash.
Some of our own physical geographers have
advanced the counter hypothesis that the tenn
perature of the air controls that of the sea,
and hence they have repudiated the view that
the climate of Western Europe is determined
by the thermic influence of the Gulf Stream
The recent British publication to which we
have referred affords an experimental test,
which puts the seal of demonstration upon
this whole problem, which has agtated think
ing minds since the days Of Benjamin Frank
lin. The observations for single one degree
square of the Atlantic, in which this
test is applied, number 5000 for
air temperatures and $500 for sea
temperatures; and these are carefully COM
pared and charted in monthly charts.
The comparison, after eliminating all erro-
neous or doubtful figures, reveals the remark
able fact that, in every month of the year, the
temperature changes Of the tropical atmos-
phere follow those Of the tropical ocean, and
not the contrary Nothing could more con-
clusively prove that the warm ocean is the
controlling factor, of the warm atmosphere,
and that the latter is uniformly responsive to
the changes which the former, under varying
solar influence, is constantly undergoing. The
deduction, thus verified in the tropical regions,
applies with equal or greater precision in the
higher latitudes Of the North Atlantic. One
would suppose that the air resting upon the
equatorial seas would be heated by the sun 8
rays more intensely than the seas themselves;
and SO, during the midday hours, it is. But
while the air is suddenly expanded, it readily
parts with its heat by nocturnal radiation into
space, the water meantime tenaciously holding
on to its caloric. The mean temperature
Of the latter, for the twenty-four hours,
in every month Of the year is, therefore, higher
than that Of the air; and thus the ocean cur
rent, which emerges from and is fed by the
equatorial water, becomes mighty distributor
Of sun-derived heat to the most remote parts
of the globe it reaches. This fact, long ago
pointed out by physicists, but now fully con-
frmed by the. British charts. explains the
wonderful climatic differences observed on
the same parallels Of latitude, and sets at rest
all speculation as to the influence of the Gulf
Stream on European meteorology. The heat
and humidity of the British Isles and the
neighboring continental countries is thus
scientifically traced, were there no conspiring
physical agency, to the warmth and vapor
breathing current of the Gulf Stream, as is
also the remarkable iquefaction Of the Arctic
ice belt north of Norway, whittier the hot
current drifts.
These beautiful researches are Of profound
practical interest to the world Of commerce as
well as to that of science, and to them will be
due the unveiling, if ever unveiled, of the
wondrous meteorological machinery OF the
ocean. The charts which register the normal
picSou1cS ouu toiuPcloLu1co VI luo OCeanlC
districts determine the proper pulse of the
sea. When the mariner detects deviation
from these figures, by the showing of lis
glasses, he is enabled at once to read the
omens of its feverish tumult and its gathering
tempest and prepare his ship for the worst
The interests Of the seaman and the scientist
alike urge the earnest and extensive prosecu-
ton of such Investigations
Wa1ling ON Outrages.
1t is somewhat strange to hnd the Superin-
tendent Of the Police force Of the city en-