The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1882-06-08
METEOROLOGICAL CHANGES.


spring season uncommon that the oldest
inhabitant" can not remember the like the Europe
an, rather the Eastern Continent is also subject
to remarkable climatic changes. Comparatively.
the Eastern Continent is warmer than the Western.
But how long this advantage will last, is question
now seriously under consideration by metsorolog-
ical students In the climate Of the southern part Of
England, where lemon and orange trees were left
out doors in the winter season, and seldom expert
| enced any harm, u remarkable change for the
has taken place.
| II is known TO every sehoolboy. that the British
Isles are indebted to the Gulf Stream for their COM
parative warm and agreeable climate; stream
ceving its warm temperature in the Gulf Of Mexico
by some unknown assnc,. II then passes along the
American coast, and woIld How to the North Pole,
fit, not diverted by the Polar Current.
near Newfoundland. 1t there divides into three
currents: one howir 2 northeast. to the coast Of
Spitzbergeu and Nova ZeInbla. the second giving
warm temperature to the waters Of the Gulf Of Bis
cay, and the third taxing u southerly along
the coast of Afreca. zach of these has little
side currents, and perhaps the beat known is the
Rendell Current, which passes directly into the
English Channel. Observations have proven tina,
this current has changed, rather is changing
tnuRlly; and, n practical proof of this assertion.
Freuchman. NJ. Blavier, mentions, in pamphlet
\ ",
the sardines which came formerly to the coast Of
France by thousands of millions, especially to the
coast of vendee, have disappeared, though
nobody knows whittier this migratory species of fish
is now drifting France sent sariues to all quar-
tiers of the globe but her income i. fifteen
million franc, less, and FIVE Thousand fishers are
without occupation.
At the said meeting of the Vienna Academy, a
great many learned men, who indulge in barometer
cal thermometrical and hygrometTieal studies
assembled, and discussed amongst other topics, the
apparent increase Of warm temperature all
the northern part Of the Eastern Hemsphere-South
ern England excluded. Three principal opinions
| prevailed: I. the influence of sun.spots; ., the
changes in the Gulf Stream; and D. the decrease Of
the European glaciers. The first opinion was dis
carled, because Of the little material offered for
making deductions; the second not very favor
ably received but resolutions passed TO give all pos
sible attention to this natural phenomenon hut the
third one received marked attention especially a.
some carefully prepared statistics submitted by
Professor Dufour Of Geneva. From his report
translate the following:
'when Mr. Forel and myself, in 1870. paid visit
have repeatedly communicated to this Society
later surveys which show decrease Of the glacier
so that the same, since 1879. has been confined to
such boundaries, which the nhabnants of the COM
try declare be the circumference of tho
same since they knew it. This decrease must have
begun in IS Sc. 1t is however, not confined to
the Rhone glacier, but it is phenomenon which sp-
pears in the entire Alpine regions though not every
where with the same results. Even some glaciers
did increase, whilst others decreased. However, at
the prrsent time one make the assertion and is
backed by observations, that the decreasing move
ments of glaciers have become rule.
AT q meeting Of the Scientific Congress at Paris.
in 1873 found opportunity TO speak with SOW
eral French snrdnts about this matter, and learned
from them that the same phenomenon had been oh
daft he larirr al PyreuPes of
glaciers presented decreased circumference: some
had even disappeared. These correspondents re-
ports of course directed attention to the entire
glacier territory Of Europe. IL WAS now of impor-
lance TO inquire whether the glaciers Of the Cau-
casus and Scandinavia were subject to the phe-
nomenon had observed on the Rhoue and Pyr--
nees For this purpose. ] wrote to Mr.. Wild, Di-
Of the Central Meteorological Observatory Of
Russia, and Mr.. Nystroem, in Sweden. Both gen
tlemen were so kind TO transmit the requested
communication, and their observations prove like
wise a decrease Of the Caucasian and Scandinavian
groups similar to those observed in the Alps
and Pyrenees. In the Caucasian Mountains, the de
crease began at the sams time as that the Rhone
glacier-either in IS SO. In Scandinavia, tho
change had at first effect only certain groups but
has now become 4 generality. Mr.. Mushroom
kind to consult the famous explorer, Norden
skioeld. about his observations, and learned from
him that the glaciers Of Spiubsrgen were, Of late,
also decreasing in size.
..In 1880 l submitted all my observations about
this phenomenon TO the Congress ut Rheims. Dur
ing the discussion that followed many Of those pref
ent snbstantated the same by their own personal
stated that the glaciers there were also decreasing
considerably.
1T would be interesting to know to to how far
the Asate and American glaciers participate in this
decreasing movement, aud whether any noteworthy
to that effect took place JUST desir-
bic il would be to know whether during the snme
period, any remarkable change has occurred in
the world Of glaciers Of the Southern Hemisphere.
But however the decrease OF the four great Europe
an groups of glaciers those of the Pyrenees, Alps.
Caucasus, and Scandinavia IL fact of great impor
lance.
cit il difficult to give \ for the decrease Of
the glaciers, especially as the weather Of the last
years has not been very different from that of prsvi
ones. However. the eXpanse or decrease of
glaciers depends different circumstances; above
all. on the summerheat humidity, and warm winds.
As to heat and winds. their consequences are indi
rect; but as to humidity they are more direct Ar-
cording to experiments on the Rhone glaciers. By
Mr.. Forel aud myself, the aqueous vaPor eondensea
the ice, in winter on the window panes OF Our
habitations and By this process the quantity of
water flowing frsm the glacier increased eonsidera-
bly,. But the decrease Of glaciers does not depend
entirely on the agenees that destroy them Dui also
on these that form them. the accumulation Of
snow in that reservoir which forms the foundation
Of the glacier. This snow which by degrees changes
to ice consists Of prodgious Masses These masses
move but slowly, and il takes them n considerable
number Of years till they reach the bottom OF the
glacier, when they melt THIS ice therefore, repre-
renees Of a long period, which may embrace more
than hundred years 1t would be mistake, there
cirrs which we have observed, without the periods
lust passed and for that very reason, the observa
ton Of the prodgious decrease OF glaciers Of which
We are vitnesses. should not be neglected. In all
countries when this phenomenon occurs, il should
he traced, by all available means, to its primitive
causes"
So far. Mr. Dufour. II the same changes would
occur in the Rocky Mountain glaciers, entire
change Of climate would take place in the Missouri
Valley; but judging from the intensity Of the eod
weather accompanying q northwest wind, it might
be safe infer that the glaciers of this continent
have but little inclination to initiate the example OF
their colleagues on the other side Of the globe
Dsc.PULrs.