St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1879-02-15
rs THE CLIMATE CHANGING?
"A eeaeatfon for oEr Scte:stisssso Consider
ami Report Upon.
EroOkl7n Eagle.

"A eaaession for our Scientists TO Consider
ami Report Upon.
BROOKLYN Esgl~.
The recent succession of mild winters
have given rise TO the inquiry: is the
North America climate undergoing a
change? The cid resident is apt to be
emphatic in the assertion that it is, snd
that the change has produced milder
winters, Whether this is true or not is
an open question. The old resident is
likely to find his recollt ction more vivid
AZ to the seasons Of extreme temperature.
The mild seasons may pass out Of nis
memory altogether. Certain facts are
not to be disputed. One is that winters
vary in the degree Of the intensity OF
their cold; that is to FAY, one winter will
exceed another in intensity. Another
is that for two or three years past the
average temperature for the cold season
has been higher than those which inme>
diately preceded them. But whether
there is permanent change, which is the
result of the operation of natural forces
is question which is we'll worth dis
| cussion and investigation. The climate
of country largely depends upon its
| CONFORMATION. 1t has clearly been dem~
onstrated by Humboldt that the physical
| formation of the surface of the country
contributes to make the temperature
A nd it is for this reason that we md
such q discrepancy in the climates 2t the
same lAlilude For instance, we occupy
the same latitude with Spain, yet the
difference is IS marked as between Florida
and New York. Scotland, Ireland and
Labrador are in the same latitude, but
their climates differ materially. The
physical formation has to do with this
and, as well, the Gulf stream. Labrador
is to certain extent plain, rarely
broken with lakes or large bodies of
water. The surfaces of Scotland and
Ireland are diversified with mountains
and valleys, in the latter Of which lie
many lakes. Thus we can understand
why the climate of Labrador is stern and
and cold. But there is difference be-
tween Scotland and Ireland and here we
find the influence exerted by the Gulf
stream. This curious phenomenon of the
Atlantic Ocean which does not touch the
shores Of Labrador, skirts one corner of
Scotland and sweeps along large por-
ton of the shores Of Ireland. Therefore
there is found climate somewhat more
genial in Ireland than in Scotland.
Aside, thu, from the influence of the
warmth the Gulf stream brings to the
climate, the elevation of mountains with
their slopes$Q the seas OR to the lower
points OF the Valleys, and the lakes lying
therein, nave to do with the conditions
and degrees Of the climate.
But in North America this condition
of topography was the same fifty years
ago. If there is change in our climate
it is due to causes which have not been
touched upon as yet. III. Marsh, in his
book "Man and Nature" holds that the
forests have much to do with the climate.
There is 10 doubt their ilfuence is felt
to q greater or less extent, certainly as to
the condition OF the soil, and DR.. Marsh
points out that there were portions OF
Asia at one time as fertile as any land we
have in this country, which are now arid
and waste, owing to the reckless prodi-
galty with which the natives destroyed
their forests. Certainly the forests in
crease the humidity of the climate which
is not matter of dispute, and the farmer
practically effects the climate of his farm
when he plants trees about his house. It
may not be any more appreciable than
the fact that the centre of the earth is
changed every tin@ man lifts his foot
from the ground, but the climate is
affected nevertheless. This question of
forests though, is more in respect CT its
moisture than in its cold. And though
forests of this part of the country have
een'dirinished. it is doubtful whether
the change can be accounted for upon
this ground. II this theory were to be
adopted we should be at loss to account
for the change in the climate in those
portions Of the country where the forests
exist almost in their primeval state, and
also for the change from comparative
geniality to comparative severity in the
countries of Europe,
Some of our sarewd observers are in
Gned to the belief that the Gulf stream
is moving northward. In confirmation
of this belief is the testimony of naviga-
tors, who aver that they do not meet |
floating icebergs in ATTITUDES as far south |
as they did, and of polar explorers who |
assert that the ice foes do not form the
obstruction as far south as they did a
few years ago, together with the fact |
that the last expedition reached the !
Latitude of eighty-seven degrees north, /
much further than any expedition had |
before reached. IF this theory of the =,
northward moving of tie Gulf stream |
could be adopted, we might find reason
for the apparent change. For the effect