The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-07-26

The Chicago Inter-Ocean says The
alarming frequency of destructive tor
nadoes or cyclones this season natural
ly suggests inquiry as TO the causes Of
such storms and the laws governing
them. The Whirl.wind that destroyed
the village of Pensaukee, Wis. ION the
west side of Green Bay, may be taken
as the typical one of the series that have
made the storm record of the summer
one of the most rem arkable. There had
been day Of intense heat, followed by
indications OF q severe thunderstorm.
Suddenly it became dark, and a mighty
cloud reaching down like hugo funnel.
shaped column of smoke, to the very
earth, swept from the northwest. AS
in the ordinary wbirlwind, there was q
double motion-a rapid forward move
ment with the prevailing wind and a
whirling or revolving motion. Every
thing IN the path of the tornado was lit
orally ground to pieces. Near the river
this wbirling column of destruction was
met by a counter current coming from
the south and west, and its intensity
was increased. From this point it fol-
lowed the river, scooping up the water
and becoming great water spout. AS
it moved out into the bay it broke into
several wbirling storms of water-spouts
and spent its fury. The worst was over
in less than two minutes, and the sky
gradually assumed its usual appearance.
This was the dreadful reality 10 par
ticular case but observe how closely il
follows the generalization given by
Guyot: "When opposite winds of differ
ent temperature meet in the upper at
mosphcre, vast amount of vapor is
condensed into "A thick, black cloud, and
whirlIng motion Is given to the air,
which soon takes the shape of a vast
funnel, descending lower and lower into
the quiet atmosphere beneath as the
rapidity of its motion increases. This
long revolving column of black cloud
draws up in it's vortex all the objects in
the path of the tornado. A tornado
passing into the sea becomes water
spout"
The great cyclones OF the tropics fol
low the same general laws here indicated,
but there is difference. The air has a
strong rotary motion round center
"neTc u caiIu prevails. All aTOuuu tue
wind blows in various and opposite di
rections, while at the same time the
body OF the storm has progressive mo-
ton. Owing to the fact that they move
over a wide expanso of ocean, it has
been comparatively easy to mark out
the law of such storms. In the northern
hemisphere the rotary motion is from
right TO left, or contrary TO the direction
OF the hands of watch. In the south
ern hemisphere it is reversed. These
great storms usually begin within the
tropics, bat extend far into temperate
regions, gradually losing their force.
The theory is that in the vicinity of the
equator, currents Of air, moving in diff
ferent directions, encounter each other,
imparting to the atmosphere whirling
motion. Sometimes the struggling cur
rents are Ascending and sometimes hor-
Izontal, and the character of the storm
is modified BY mountain chains. condi-
tions OF tho surface, etc. Understand
ing the law of these great cyclones,
navIgators have in great measure been
enabled TO avoid them. The important
question is how far general law is ap.
plicable 10 the cyclones or whirlwinds
dependent on local causes.