The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-07
periodic storms and their Ultimate
Prediction.

EIitorS Dispatch: This article is intended
Simply as Il CONCLUSION 10 the hypothesis pre-
yi5ll>ly as>umed-viZ: That electricity, or
rather whit is popularity known as atmo-
sphclic or sensible electricity, is generated in
III" bowels OF the earth: that after generation
It becomes dlfused throughout the mss Of
he earth: that Remaining in latent state at
the surface, j. is there sensibiy developed in
the eoaporoting process. This being the
premise, the logical conclusion, then, is
taat there is in The first place NJ in
tense sympathy existing between water
or moisture and electricity, and in the
stcoud place between solar rays and cleo
tricity. We make use of the expression
"soIar rays" in preference to heat, because
cheat " is applicable to both sun and cleo.
tricity. Provided, therefore, We can under.
stand The nature Of these two agents in the
evapnra.ing proceSs-viz., solar rays and
elec' ricitv-it will follow that we can, With
probability approaching to almost absolute
certainty. predict the time of frequent and
long continued storms. Having ascertained
the CAUSE, the effect or result will remain
as evidence OF that cause. The forces OF
nature at work ip the interior Of the earth
do not operate at all times with the same or
couaL intensity. There Is, We may assert, an
occasional subsistence, just as in the case OF
solar fluctuations. In midsummer we very
often hare the phenomenon OF al excessively
hot spell succeeded by very cool spell.
Proceeding, then, from Known result, We
will assume that the CAUSE OR SOURCE
OF FLUCTUATIONS IN THE WEATHER LIES
IN THE COINCIDENCE OR NON COINCIDENCE
OF ACTIVITY or FORCES IN THE INTE
RluR OF THE EARTH WITH SOLAR ACTIVITY.
In the one case there may be a vast amount
of energy display cd, While in the other Nh
lure be dormant. When We say " dor
mani" We have reference merely to u tempo.
rary subSidcpcc. Whether in state OF
quicscencc or not, the power is essentially the
same ut ali times aud underall circumstances.
II, then, during such u state of temporary
subsistence, chemical action is less active 10
the interior of the earth, it will follow that
the amoun. of electric fluid produced will
be correSpondlngly small, aud the diffusion
will not be as s:Qlt. In such case there
would prohrbly he the usual condensation
in the atmosphere and precipitation in the
form of rain hail, or snow. But should
there be an extraordinary activity in
the interior of the Garth contemporaueous
and coincid"nt with solar activity there
would be, uuder this hypothesis, an UNUSUAL
amount of condensation and precipitation.
Now, we maintain that il in given mum.
Der of years say eight or ten-we should
average the amount of precipitation 10 the
form of rain. hail, or snow, it would be
found that the average would be very nearly
the actual amount of precipitation each year.
This, then, being the case, if half the ave.
rage should be considerably greater than the
amount of precipitation for the first siS
months Of the year it would follow with
tolerable certainty that there would be vic.
lent storms in the next six months; or
again, if the average amount of precipita
ton considerably exceeded the entire amour
Of precipitation actually taking place in !,
given year, then should We anticipate violen
storms in the succeeding year. G. B. D.
Richmond, Va, August 6, 1915.