Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-02
atmospheric ELECTRICITY
As an Aid to the Barometer in Predicting
Approaching storms


AS an Aid to the Barometer in Predicting
Approaching Storms.
The following on electricity as an aid to
the barometer in predicting approaching
storms was compiled by Sergeant James A.
Barwick, of the Sacramento Signal Office,
from the official reports furnished his office
by General Hazen, Chief Signal Officer,
Washington, ID. c..
That electricity has much to do with the
condition of the weather, and with its
numerous, constantly recurring changes,
Is known to every one. There is just now
disposition among meteorelogists to give
this mysterious force much of the credit
heretofore awarded to heat, for the general
circulation of the atmosphere, the perma.
nent, ever-fowing winds. It therefore be-
comes important to have series of OBJ
servations made, several times day, and
continued through many years, showing
the quantity and kind of electricity in the
atmosphere. Il is fair Co suppose that
such observations might be made of great
utility IN our endeavor to anticipate the
approach of storms upon our lake-shores
and sea-coasts, for the benefit of COM
merce. So far as is known, DR.. Wislize-
nus, of st. Louis, Mo-, is the only person
IN this country who has applied him
self to the calculation of this important
problem of atmospheric electricity. He
devotes to this subject an amount of
patience and persevering labor which enti-
ties him to the thanks of all meteorolo-
glsts. 10 make six regular daily observa-
lions, each requiring careful manipulation,
and to continue them from month to month
for more than ten consecutive years, with
no other hope of reward than the conscious
ness OF adding to the sum of human knowl.
edge, Is a task few would voluntarily un.
dertake, DR.. Wislizenus, owing to weak
eyes, gave up the observations. but turned
his instruments over to the Washington
University, OF st. Louis, Mo, for the pur-
pose OF continuing the record. The late
Professor j. A. Lapham says that from
these extended observations of DR.. Wis.
lizenus the following facts have been de-
duced:
|. That our atmosphere is almost always
charged with electricity of 1900 observa.
tions made in 1861, only 80 indicated zero,
or a non. electric condition.
2. This electricity is almost ALWAYS posi-.
tive; Of 2, l24 observations, only rs were
negative.
3. This negative electricity appears gene.
rally in greater intensity than the positive,
and is usually attended by a. thunder.
storms, ~ common rains without thunder.
or (3l high winds without rain or thunder.
4. There is regular daily periodicity,
with two maxima and two minima the
former at 9 A. NJ. and P. NJ the latter at
3 P. y. ana (probablyl about midnight.
D. The quantity of positive electricity is
greatest in winter and less in summer, cor
responding universally in their hemisphere
with the curve OF temperature.
6. It seems probable that there is also an
annual periodicity, analogous to the period
lefty of the sun spots, the magnetic ele.
ments and the aurora. This will be de-
cided when the observations have been con-
tinued few years more.
With reference to the possibility of
predicting the approach of storms from
these electrical. observations, Dr. Wislize-
nus writes thai he had many times occa-
sion to observe how easily the equili.
brium in tie quantity of the usual
stm ospherc electricity is disturbed.
Quite distant rainEalls and thunder.
storms often made the electricity here (Ss.
L9uikl disappear at once still more 80
snowialis. In the winter, when strong
positive electricity, with fair and cold
weather, declines or disappears entirely,
without any aPpreciable local cause, l
have citen predicted contemporaneous
considerable snowfall at great distances,
and the telegraph generally confirmed my
suyposition from such localities as Cairo,
Cincinnati, Chicago, Buffalo, and even
New York. The accumulation of positive
ial!s, seemed to have produced vacuum
here in s., Luis. The sensibility of the
e!ectFogce. = IL auch changes is far greater
than that Of tbs barometer. Dry storms.
too, q no great violence and OF more local
extent, ffecs ofter. the e!ectrometer, while
the barometer scarcely shows any fluctua-
ton. But in strong gales, tina. are invari.
ably accompanied by sudden depression of
the barometer, the eleGtrometef confirms
and corroborates the barometer by sud.
den change into most intense negative
electricity, lasting during the gale. The
electrometer become thus most valuable
aid to the practical purposes of the
barometer"
The only reason why observation on at
mospheric electricity has ros teen taken by
the Signal Service is because Of the very
delicate nature of the instrument at pres
ent used, and the difficulties Of making the
observations were such that they could not
become general. There is an electrometer
made that is seif.registering by photogra-
ply, but the cost of such Instruments, and
the delicate nature of their construction,
debars them from coming into general use,
for a good STRENGTHENING instrument
would cost something over 5000. If our
electricians could devise some more simple
and easily managed electrcmeter, and one
that would not cost SO much, the object
could be accomplished and an additional
certainty given to the conjecture of the
probabilities or indications of the
approach or occurrence Of storms.
In q report on the observations Of atmos.
pheric electricity, made during January,
1879 seven times day at Montsouris, it
Is stated that during recent long contin-
uance of high pressure, and with variety
of cold and unpleasant weather, the indi.
cations were invariably of positive elec-
tricity that the change to negative cleo.
trictty took place simultaneously with the
change to warmer. thawing weather. 1t
is also stated that the electric Indications
at the Kew Observatory, England, were
the same as at Montsouris, France.
For observations of atmospheric elec-
tricity NJ. Mascsrt usea Thomson electro.
meter connected with a vessel having
continuous outflow of water. The defec.
tons OF the needle are transmitted every
two and half minutes TO pencil, which
records them on o sheet of paper. The
series OF traces form curve, not ccntinu-
ous, indeed, but nearly so. This apparatus
was put in action at the College of France
IN February, 1879, and the curves obtained
during the following FIVE months present
several interesting features. The potential
OF the air is shown to be generally positive,
with more or less rapid variations. In bad
weather the curves become more irregular
rain nearly always produces very great
negative reflections. The change of
sign appears before the rain comes;
sometimes rain is followed by very
high positive indications. There are
also some very rare cases of posi-
tive rains, and of great negative reflections
without apparent rain in the neighborhood.
This predominance Of negative electricity
In rain clouds M. Mascart regards as an
Important point IN the question of the orr.
gin OF atmospheric electricity Neglect
ing accidental variations, one is struck by
the fact that the electricity is much more
uniform at night and more variable by day.
There 10 an eiectrometer with a photo
graphic elfregister in use at tie Kew OBJ
servatory. England, but am unable a. pres
ent to give any results of the observations
for the year or more it has been in use.
An instrument of that kind would forever
set at rest the electrical question Of the
north winds of California. / am in CORE
spondence with l.. G. Tillo.tson & Co.,
New York, and James w. Queen & Co.,
Philadelphia, regarding a Strengthening
electrometer, and if the cost is not too
much and the instrument not too liable to
get out OF order, there may be prospect
ahead OF testing the electricity in our
atmosphere the coming rainy season
thereby. also, testing its assistance to the
barometer in regard to forecasting ap.
preaching storms. Professor Nipher, Of
the Washington University, st. Louis. is
II ~ ~