Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-08-29

The study OF the vicissitudes Of the
atmosphere has now become national,
and also international. The remarkable
accuracy of the Signal Service in the
forecast Of the weather has stimulated
all enlightened nations to give attention
to that element in the education of the
people. Where stations for observation
are properly located their Importance is
great and their accuracy wonderful.
The location Of station Is the key to
its usefulness and value. A station at
London is Of no use to New York in
forecasting the weather. The great
forces Of the atmosphere have certain
laws and motions that must be consid-
cred in making up a forecast of the
weather.
Tho meteorological equator of the
earth, which Is always on the north side
Of the geometrical equator, on account
Of the excess OF the continental forma-
tions in the northern hemisphere, is the
standpoint from which to study the laws
Of storms. This equator is variable
with the change Of seasons, ranging
from two degrees to fourteen degrees
, north Of the geomotrical equator of the
earth. The meteorological poles of the
earth vary from the geometrical poles,
also. The magnetic poles OF the earth
still more notably vary from the geomet-
rical poles. doubtless from the same
reason.
This meteorological equator is where
the great worldwide emotions and the
harmonic rhythm Of the nir begin.
There the vast aerial rivers that circum-
scribe the globe start on their refreshing
mission to water the earth and save the
life Of mankind. This Is the home Of
the tabled Eolus and the music Of the
air. These great powers that float
around us impressed ancient heather
nations with snch awe that they were
deidsd, and Holus, Boreas, Eurus,
Notus and Zephyrus became the gods of
the winds.
The sun is the source of all wind.
Over the equatorial surface Of the globe
the sun in its ceaseless round sets forth
the motion of the air by rarefying
aud expanding 1t with fervent heat.
The heated aerial zono leaps up in a
vertical current, while the air from the
north and south flow In to supply the
partial void. These form the two and
only constant winds on the surface OF
the earth. The north and the south.
All others are but temporary, and varia-
tions of these two surface winds. Notus
and Boreas are the chief. One north OF
the meteorological equator and the
other south. AT this equator they meet
and unite in an ascending column OF
air. Here the north and south winds
mutually arrest each other, and produce
the zone of calms, so dreaded by home
sick mariners. In this zone the col
lisiou of the two currents often produce
the most violent vortices in the air, a
rotary motion that destroys ships,
trees and houses, even lifting rocks out
of their places and cannon from fortifi-
cations. The center of this zone is in
about ten degrees north latitude, which
is the hottest portion of the earth, but
in our winter it swings southwark to
about five degrees north latitude, and
back in summer to fifteen degrees north.
In this zone where all the winds are
generated, are the most remarkable ex-
hibitions of water spouts caused by the
rotary motion of the winds in collision.
The north and south winds here are
sometimes so evenly balanced that ships
outside of current Of the sea, lie idle
for weeks at time. The two currents
unite in one ascending column for four
or five miles and then divide into two
currents, one flowing towards the north
pole and the other towards the south,
while underneath these currents the air
is flowing in directly opposite directions.
These upper currents approach the SUR
face Of the earth as they travel
far from home and on the Peak
of Teneriffe at height OF y
miles blow the vapor of the volcano
towards the north while down below
the steady trade carries the smoke OF
commerce towards the south. This
beautiful illustration of the duality of
winds was discovered by HALEY about
two hundred years ago. 1t has been
noticed in Colorado and on Mount Whit.
ney and Mount San Bernardino in our
own neighborhood, and on the summit
Of Mauna Loa in the Sandwich Islands.
On yesterday this upper heated current
OF air was brought down to the surface
OF tue earth, and swept the State from
north to south, going back towards the
meteorological equator whence it came,
nearly in the shape of the circumference
Of an ellipse. These hot northern blasts
come more often in California than in
some other places owing to the ease with
which our deserts are heated. The same
result is seen on the west coast of Africa,
but at times they are seen in the ATTAIN
tic States, when the leaves of apple
trees have been scorched to their death
in single day.
The delicious trade wind that usually
prevails in Southern California from
about May 10th to October 10th. coming
from the west, is but deaec ion of the
great steady ancient north wind flowing
from the north pole towards the equator
and detected from its course by the
motion of the earth and the heat OF the
inland.
Winds from all other directions are
temporary results from local causes.
mere scouting parties from the great
,easeless machinery that nature is
'teadily carrying on around and above
is. This simple fact Of the existence OF
mt two constant winds has been estab-
ished beyond doubt. While the cur
ent of wind along the earth. was blow
ng from the north, or from the west de-
Iected from the north, ashes and dust
ave fallen down from the sky from
olcanoes 1000 miles to the southwest
shich cast their debris SO high that it