New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-26
THE SOURCE OF COLD WEATHER.


wOEIKOF or RUSSIA.
This paper was i'm reference to Prof. LOOmis's
essay the Weather Bureau DIT Woeikof had hearty
admiration for the essay but coud not coincide with all
its conclusions, especially to the occurrence of great
cold being due to the descent Of air from the upper re-
gions while accepting in general the descent Of air
producing outflow in lower strata 1t IL impossible to
admit that such descent is the origin Of cold except in
few cases special local conditions i'll hundersOms
Since air in descending is inevitably heated by
traction ratio OF than degree for every 100
meters must ask whether In high regions air is Of
very low temperature as still to produce great
cold after descent. Alpine observations this ques
tOn IN tie negative. We find In low situations tempea
lures extreme at great elevations. The following
are examples: Mt ST. Bernard, 2i7s meters high low
ters - 27o sis EngadinJ, l,SlO meters, -27o Bevers
Engadm): I7I5 meters - 800 Rhig 7s4 meters
the Becca Iii Mona as recording temperature of
Pc and tho Col d Erik of -2l'; also taking equal
temperature of -27o while the latter was
dSTsn %;sni Of Gny A. In the A&Sr
temperature was27i9o while at Klagenfurth hight only
40 meters 1t was the mean minimum OF succcs-
elevation Of Santa Maria Stelvo in tho Tyrol it
S inc dh RSd%sn OF M nS being 500 meters M
rounding slopes is due TO cooling by radiation Of the sur
face; afte ting the air by conducion The cold air. on
account Of lis greater density stays long at the bottom
such conditions, intense radiation occurring with clear
sky, dry and "a calm atmosphere without disturb
ances
Cold may be generated the spot by simple radiation
This Is especially the at the meteorological poles AZ
all winds there bring air In other regions cold Is
partly 0ccdsOned by cold winds and partly by radiation;
the cold winds favormg radiation, by dispelng the
clouds aud diminishing the absolute and relative hui
nudity. AS a proof Of the importance To an explanation
OF known facts Of this transportation OF cold air the
high tho rmomctrio minma where this air passes the
may he adduced The Azores have no lower temp,-
nature than 1922 while they In the latitude OF Wash
ington. III cold were result OF descent from higher
strata VI the atmosphere those islands should often ex-
perieDce Instances OF colder weather. especially since
high barometer and numerous anticy frequent
features OF their climate No very low temperatures are
recorded at Peking, though the OF the Winters is
low. That city IL exposed to descending
from the mountainous region OF Cobb elevation 900
stronger than in atmosphere not thus affected ut
the same hight; low mean temperature il consequence
Of these cold winds and tho clear sy they occasion But
Picking screened from the colder winds Of the Siberian
pole by these mountainous and hence has
perienoes OF very low minimum temperatures On the
other hand tho American coast has mean win
tor temperature because the winds are moro con
slant but II also experiences frequent low minimum
temperate because IL Is nsucenty screened the
Appalachian fum the cold winds of the American
meteorological pole. These frequent spells cold with
high winds and comparatively low barometer In eastern
North America, are due TO enormous Of cold air
the Atlantic coast Especially these winds noted by
the observers stationed Mount Washington where tho
temperature sinks below 40o Fab. with extremely low
barometer and high northwest wind For example, on
March 1872, with the barometer 81 y NM below the
mean. tho thermometer marked Ago. wCw