The New York herald., 1877-10-26
Profs.sor Loomss ON storms.


tleman holding the rank among rscientistss
that Professor Loomis occupies at present
should offer such an explanation of the gen.
esis Of storms on the American continent as
that given by him on Wednesday before the
Academy Of Sciences We are also aston.
ished that none of his auditors who knew
anything about American meteorology de-
nounced theories which are Numerically
opposed to the plainest facts According to
Professor Loomis nearly all the storms that
pass over the section Of the American con.
tinent represented by the United States are
developed within the limits of that section
and generally in the neighborhood of the
Rocky Mountains. A few, he states,
can be traced to the Pacific Ocean.
near the northern boundary of the
United States. Setting aside for the pres.
ent our own system of observations.
if that of the Signal Service Bureau is Of
any value whatever, and we are willing to
accept its resultant data at all times as en-.
tirely correct, the observations made under
the direction of General Myer disprove Pro-
fessor Loomis' statements absolutely, both
as regards the origin of nearly all storms
that traverse the United States, their direct
causes and the character OF their move
ments, local and general. It is true that
some storms, not merely depressions, are Of
what may be termed local organization, but
they do not represent ten per cent of
the disturbances that pass over our terri
tory. We have made careful study Of
the phenomena attending these, and
can explain to Professor Loomis at
the proper time how low pressures
become developed into storms, and why it
is that depressions are observed more FREE
quently on the Pacific coast near the north.
ern boundary Of the United States than in
more southerly ATTITUDES along that coast.
We can show that the general conditions
that give rise to storms are as constant aa
the flow of the tidal wave, but that these
are subject to local variations, which in.
crease or modify the energy of disturbances
in certain localities. TO do this, however,
within the limits of an editorial article ia
manifestly impossible, but we unhesitat-
ingly assert our ability to do so at length to
the satisfaction of oil unprejudiced minds.
Professor Loomis' description of the birth
of storm contains just enough of the ele-
ments of scientific truth to make the fal-
lacious balance supremely ridiculous. There
is no more possibility Of the existence of m
area Of several hundred miles diameter
throughout which the barometer stands at
the mean than of one of equal area Of open
ocean over which the water surface is un-
disturbed by the least undulntion. Tho
constant effort to find mean being one Of
the causes of atmospheric movement, and
as this is as constantly being acted upon,
directly and indirectly, by varying condi-
tions of temperature, radiation and hui
midity, due to equally inconstant causes,
solar and terrestrial heat it is mani-
festly impossible that an atmospheric
equilibrium could result from the opera
tion Of such variable and always vary-
ing forces. If these latter were relatively
constant for any given length Of time we
could admit the possibility of an extensive
area Of mean pressure for that time; but, as
they are not, such an area cannot exist We
would also call Professor Loomis' attention
to the fact that the winds are effects. not
causes, auQ tullt ne, tueTcloIt, lulSeupluyd
them in his effort to explain storm move-
ments The permanent west wind does not
|. carry the storm along, MS he supposes, be-
cause it is an effect common to all ATTITUDES,
northern and southern, and is produced
above the level of the storm movement.
What causes this general easterly movement
of the upper atmosphere in the same direc-
ton as the earth's revolution is n question
on which we shall reserve an opinion until
Professor Loomis reconciles his theory Of
storms with meteorological facts. Strictly
this involves an indefinite postponement Of
discussion on the subject Of the upper west
wind but we will not take advantage of this
to avoid controversy in which either we
or Professor Loomis must certainly gain
much valuable information. What we now
desire is simply this, that Professor Loomis
will attempt to prove what he has stated be-
fore the Academy of Sciences in relation to
storms on any basis Of fact which is attaina-
BILE by him. We can assure him Of every
opportunity OF gaining the widest publicity
for his views in the HERALD, but we also beg
to inform him that the HERALD will combat
every unsound theory that he may advance,
--tS----
PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE.