Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1880-12-18
The Climate OF Michigan.

At a meeting of the State Horticul
tural society held in Ann Arbor last
week. Prof. Winchell, of the Michigan
University, read an able paper on the
climate of Michigan, showing the influ-
ence the vast bodies of water surround
ing the state had upon the climate. of
which we give the following report from
the Post and Tribune: ebgIoa03 of rsm
He demonstrated that there was but
one physical charaeteristie-Of our state
which confers any peculiar advantage
over other states, and that is our exeep-
ti0nal climate exceptional to, the. great
advantage of both agricultural and ,hOr-
lticultural capabilities. Dr.. Winchei1
spoke OF the 'reas0nssAnd time when his
attention was first drawn to the climat-
OIogy of the state, and his consequent
labOrs i'm that channel, as well as his en-
deayOrs to obtain some pscuniary help
from the state Legislature. He spoke of
the incredulity with which his astOnish
ing facts were at first received by scien-
fists and their subsequent confirmation.
"Our state is also climatic peninsula;
and yet extended observation shows that
our climate in its seasonal means is a
patch taken from the latitude of Ohio,
while in the moderation of its extremes
it bears an analogy to the Floridian
peninsula. Its boundaries are cut off
| from the climate of Wisconsin and Ohio
| by barriers as real and abrupt as the
territorial boundaries. The immense
area of Lake Michigan, containing 3,40O
cubic miles of water, maintains COM
paratiyely even temperature: this, of
course, eXerts an immense influence i'm
equalizing the temperature and depriv-
| ing it of extremes. When the tempera-
ture of the land sinks to 2OOr 80 degrees
that of the lake is go or 20 degrees high
er, and the vapOr which ascends from
the surface is the literal similitude of
the steam Kissing from kettle heated
over a domestic fire. The other factor
in our peninsula climate is the prevail
ing direction of the wind. Should the
air remain a perpetual calm the state
would be but feebly warmed by the
contiguous lake, but by the breeZes sweep
ing over the lake surface they bring its
warmer air to the land in winter, and
raise the temperature of all the sur
rounding states, as shown by isOthermal
charts. But WI know the prevailing
direction of our cold winds is from the
west; therefore Michigan is of necessity
the state most benefited. 1t is shown
by statistics also, that the eastern shore
of the lake during the month of May is
exempt from the retarding influence of
chilly western winds. This unique ar
rangement seems to have been prompted
by beneficient regard for the interests
of early vegetation on our side of the
lake. Westerly winds cease to predOmi-
nate only when they cease to be benei-
] cial to the state. Nor is this benefit con-
fined to the lake borders, but extends a
modified influence throughout the
state. The Huron peninsula lies in the
lee of Saginaw bay, and is thus second
Michigan i'm climhte. Thus in our ex-
ceptiOnal climate we possess natural
resource which ought to be studied both
by the public and the private citizen;
and which, utilized to the fullest extent,
will enable us to produce the crops suit
ed to the lower Ohio valley, with more
certain exemption from unreasonable
frOsts than is enjoyed by Kentucky,
Missouri, northern Texas or the much
| coveted Indian territory.