The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-19

be continued steadily But 1t certainly does seem as
though some few among the persons who have me-
neurological matters under their charge might devote
their attention the work of analyz the millions
OF observations already collected Even II IL IL I'M
possible as am disposed for my own part
to fear, to produce any system for predicting
weather more than few hours day or two ia
advance. yet this at least might be done for many
regions of the eart which at present have no warn
ing even for an hour, Of the approach or the most
desolating hurricanes. Teleeraphic communication
especially may hope to see it developed in the
coming years. might be employed much more ex-
tensively than ut present. Thus our own country
which warns countries to the east of coming storms
but receives no warnings. might receive useful in
tinaton from the United States and the West
Indies remote though they are) of the advance OF
great cyclonic disturbances upon us from the
neighborhood of the West Indies. Florida. &c. The
further progress of great disturbances
toward our shores might be learned also from
ships which, sailing toward the United States have
encountered rough weather when two or three days
fax or St. Johns might afford even later intelligence
1t Is probable that i'll nearly every and certain
that i'll many eases. cyconic disturbances which
have rounded the West Indian part OF the great
storm and travelled along tho shores OF the
United States beyond Hatteras generally overlap
ping the land pursue their course across the Attain
tic though with gradually diminishing force, until
they reach Europe. Probably law would be found
to connect their motions. on the western part OF
their track. and the direction along which they
would strike the shores OF Europe. Storms which,
after rounding the West Indies: pass toward the
States. may usually reach the shores of Spain the
Bay of Biscay. while those which overlap the south
tic on more northerly track and make tor the
British Isles or pass even north OF Scotland to the
shores of Norway. As IL is probable that very few
really fierce hurricanes reach from the southwest
which have not first been felt tho western side OF
carefully all that be learned respecting the
OF such storms. And certainly the expense OF tele-
graphic communication from the other side OF the
Atlantic would not be worth considering in compare
with the advantage derived from early intlIna-
ton OF the approach OF hurricanes toward the
shores of Europe. In other regions. and especially
in the tropics Geographic communication might DO
much more readily and effectively employed in an
nounciDg the approach Of hurricanes.
STORM PREDICTIONS.
In speaking Of recent storm predictions Professor
Proctor says
Although doubt has been thrown by some on the
connection between the currents of the North At
lanc and the weather Of the British Isles and West
opinion Expressed by Sabin many years since s
sound, and that the so-caled Gulf Stream does in
most marked manner affect weather. The most
striking evidence Of this is to be found in the
cess of the storm predictions telegraphed to this
country from time to time by the New YORK HERALD,
If the warmer air over the great surface current
from North America to Western Europe did not afford
q path along which atmospheric disturbances can
be propagated to great distances without any note
worthy divergence these predictions would certainly
not have been fulfilled in large percentage of
cases. These predictions, be it remembered. point
much further in advance than any which have
been based European observations, at least with
fair measure of success-sure proof, II any were
needed, that in the main our weather depends on
the Atlantic. believe that not only wind storms
but temperature and rainfall will in the future and
perhaps before long, be predicted for certain
any rate, from the far West. 1t is that the
regular service of kilograms formerly received from
Newfoundland proved OF little value. But,
the Director Of the Meteorological Office pointed
out several months ago. what really want is that
thoroughly competent meteorologist on that side
should have twin stations connected geographically,
the height and rate Of motion the upper
clouds; their aspect would indicate the temperature
of the atmospheric strata to which they belonged.
and then should know what changes to expect
from approaching cold or warm currents in the up
per air. At single station neither the height nor
the rate OF motion OF clouds can be determined;
but from two stations mile or apart the dis
tance height and motion OF any cloud could be very
readily determined. II photography. indeed, were
employed, such instruments being used that the
height and bearing of every point in the sky picture
would be known. records of great value could be
obtained merely for weather prediction, but for
the study OF the as yet unknown movements of those
regions Of the air in which cirrus clouds formed