The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-21
rho cu,r stream and the weather.

From the new OTk UOHtIdt VI
We occasionally receive shiRmas'ers, re-,
ports OF apparent great chaases III aoa eue
coi,rse OF the Gulf stream on our coast.
Their or,inlons are based on intelligent per.
sonal observations, and are always entiliea
70 resnect, though lacking scientific accu'
racy. These statements give rise 10 crude
theories ia explanation OF changes IN
the climate. It is said that the sniit-
ing of tie mass OF warm water whlch
forms The Gulf stream to line nearer
our coast than usual makes the laDd
temperature higher, while the receding OF
the stream further into the Atlantic gives
us a smell OF cold weather. About all tbs
there is nothing improbable. 1t Is merely
ouestion OF fact. The climate OF the AT
lantic tier OF States would undoubtedly oe
muci, affected by q material change I'D the
course of the mighty ocean current. Does
the phenomenon take place at Intervals
or at all? Some of the ancient mari
ners say yes. But the officers OF the
United States Coast Survey, who ought 10
understand the subject, both in practice and
theory, are OF contrary opinion. VI iate
wears the Gulf stream has not been spe.
cisly observed by them with the view OF
determining this point. But, between tne
wears 1S45 aud 1860, the then supeFin!enu-
ent of the Coast Survey. Professor A -.
Bache, directed most eiaoorate series
OF surveys and soundings, wh'ch leo 10
the conclusion that the Gun streal1
flows in course essentlally uual'eleu
from wear to year. The permanency
was very remarkable. Surveys and
sonndinys Of different sections OF the stream
along our coast conceded very closely IN dl1-
ferent years. The fact is mentioned that on
the Cane Henry section, which was explored
three times, the positions OF the cold wall
rbe we'll. defined edge OF the warm currenl)
land of the axis OF the stream itself were
reproduced within five and half miles
Of each other. This is very close
agreement, considering the Liability 10
error in ascertaning positions at sea.
The change, If any, in that case was tri-
vial compared with that reported to nave
been discovered by Captain Rogers, OF the
steamship Lcpanto, last month, in bis Voy-
are from New York to southampton. While
not inclined TO depreciate his observations,
or those OF Others to the same effect. we
must attach greater weight to the scientific
testimony OF the Coast Survey, the officers
OF which have proved their competency, as
| witnessed by many years OF faithful and
skilful work. The most complete report
ever prepared by those officers on the sub
! iect declares: SIT must be admitted that
the permauency OF the bands and the accu-
racy of the observations OF them ale fully
proved"
The seeming discrepancy between the
statements of the two classes OF obserV.
ers-the scientists and the sea captains
is not irrecoucilable. 1t is highly proba-
BILE, and believed to be fact, that the
surface water OF the Gulf stream may be
| l. ,,k - itp ftU a
strong wind for distance OF many
miles. But this change would not ne
cessarily affect the great body OF the cur
rent, flowing many fathoms below the sur
face. The general course OF the Gulf
stream is held 10 be chiefly determined by
the CONFORMATION OF the bottom OF the sea.
Only when the ocean bottom changes is the
course OF the stream changed. The shifting
OF the surface water must not be mistaken
for that of the stream itself, and is probably
| insufficient ut any time to explain the OBJ
served notifications OF climate OH shore.
The Gulf stream is, however, liable to
changes OF temper ature, IL not or position,
and hy these the climate may lie sensibly
affected. The Coast-Survey report declares
that the mean temperatures OF tue sections
vary considerably from year to year, and
probably from season to season. 1t has been
! noticed, for example, that the mean tempe
nature Of the Cape-Hatteras section IN 1S4S to
1853 differed two degrees. These differ
ences are accounted for by the varying tenn
peratures in the Gulf OF Mexico, which is
the birthplace OF the stream. A prevalence
OF hot weather in the Gulf has been OBJ.
served, we are told, to affect the tempera
ture OF the stream of Cape Henry in about
seven days.
Much remains to be learned about the
Gulf stream, and the part it plays in eli
matology. At present the burden Of evil
dcnce is in favor of change OF temperature
and not . change Of position, as the active
cause OF notifications in climate along the
Atlantic coast.