Evening star., 1883-06-06
Storms and Gales.

The exceptional character of the season, which
has prevailed. not only in our own country, but
over nearly the entire continent of Europe. has
directed public attention very fOrcibly to the
forecasts of the meteOrOOgsts which are pub
lshed In the daily papers. and to the evidence
on which their assumptions are founded. Nor
very many years have passed away since
weather prophets were regarded very much as
ciairvOyants and spirit media are at the present
time; a lucky hit i'm a weather almanac has more
than once sold off numerous editions and made
the fortune of the proprietor; but with the ad-
vance of science and the greater diffusion Of
scientific knowledge among the reading public
these empirical announcements have fallen into
decay and few. if any. readers could now be
found to believe in the prophecies of Mr.. Murphy
or Zadkiel or even Old Moore himself.
The storms which are frequently predicted
and, in the majority of instances. with extraOr-
dnary accuracy, are fOretOld by the state of the
barometer at various places on the earth's sur
face. The reports are received by telegram at
the chief office and being studied hour after
hour, serve to Indicate the depression at differ
ent places. as shown by the fall of the mercury
and the rate at which the atmospheric disturb
anceS are travelling, thus enabling very accu-
rate estimate to be formed of the direction of
the coming storm Although in this and other
temperate chimes we live i'm the region of vari-
able winds, and cannot calculate on trade winds
and mOnsOons. that blow either constantly or
less the storms that ravage our coasts and wreck
our strongest shipping obey certain laws; and
once their presence is known. even on the OppO-
site coast of the Atlantic. their course and even
their duration. can be predicted with a great
amount of certainty.
There are few persons of any Observant power
who may not have noticed that violent gale
seldom blows for any length of time in one di-
TectiOn. The wind changes from south to north
and veers about In apparently erratic man.
m q of a1a-n nrrrtn ro1 af
IT Is frequently stated that, after blowing with
the utmost fury, the gale will suddenly be sue
eceded by an almost perfect calm; but. before
the mariners have had time to congratulate
themselves on their supposed escape from the
imminent peril with which they were surround
ed, the gale returns with all its original yiO-
lence. but in precisely the opposite direction.
To the aifrl%hted passengers it appears as if the
demon OF the storm. regretlul OF having allowed
the vessel TO escape. had come back to complete
the work of destruction.
1t Is now some years since that the theory OF
storms was investigated by scientific men. when
II was discovered that they were but gigantic
eddies and whirwinds. such as are in miniature
rendered visible at street corners on windy day.
when the clouds of dust. with leaves and
straws. are whiried about by the eddy caused by
the meeting OF two opposing currents OF air. II
We imagine whirlwinds several miles. or some
times several hundred miles in extent, moving
with a velocity that is unknown in this country,
We shall have an idea of a cyclOnc storm: and as
the eddy that has carried the cloud of dust
which renders il visible to the eye travels along
the highway. so does this huge whirlwind that
takes its rise usually near the West Indian
Islands, pass across the Atlantic until it reaches
Europe. still retaining sufficient force to inflict
tie damage with which We SO familiar.
One singular circumstance respecting these
storms has been definitely ascertained-that. the
eircling of the current is always in the same di-
TeotiOn, which is the reverse to that of the
hands OF a watch. As the wind thus moves in
circle it Is evident that the direction in which
1t strikes any building or vessel in its course de-
are and if the ship is situated as to be passed
over by the center of the cyclone the gale will
Increase in intensity until the center is reached,
when there will be sudden calm, which is only
aprelude to the recommencement of the tenn
pest from the opposite direction. Since the
publication of these facts vessels seldom
allow the center, which is the worst of
the cyclone, to pass over them. Now
that science has shown the way, they steer out
OF the storm, instead of following the course
previously adopted Of running before the gale
and allowing the terrible wind to blow them
north, west south. and east for days together
1t fs knowledge of the existence Of these cir
cular storms of greater or less intensity of their
rate OF passage across the Atlantic, and Of their
exact direction. which enables our meteOrOlO-
gists to predict with wonderful though not
unerring accuracy the coming Of gales and
tempests, and to enable the mariner to take
measures accordingly. By the aid of the returns
published daily in the morning papers, and sent
by telegram to all seaport towns thousands of
lives have been added to the list Of those saved
BY science.-LOndor Queen.