Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-11-05
Heavy RainfailS of the World.

The month OF August, nthis present
year is likely to be long remembered
for its heavy and destructive rainfalls
III most parts OF the world. Perhaps
the most remarkable falls reported is
that of which an account was received
from China n few days since, where
1922 inches were precipitated in n
period of "a hours. What afall of 10
inches in "a hours means may be real
ICED from the fact that one inch of
rain gives 100 tons OF water per acre,
or 10000 tons to the square mile.
Ten inches, therefore, gives l ,0OOtOns
Of water to the acre, and 600, 900
tons to the square mile. Yet the
Chinese rainfall referred to lis by no
ear in the front rank OF such occur
rences For instance, Arago reports
that on October 8, 1927, no less than
300 inches OF rain fell in 22 hours at
JOyeuse. That was three times heChi-
nese precipitation, and consequently
reached 5000 tons to the acre and
l 800, 900 tons to the square mile.
Again, on October 20, 1886, a water
spout broke over Gibraltar, and BOIL
inches OF waterfall. This is nearly two
thirds OF the average rainfall OF New
England. No such fall has ever been
recorded in England, though in August,
1916, 3.l2 inches fell in two hours in
st. Paul's churchyard in London.
This was the more notable since in
London q fall of more than one luch
i'll twenty-four hours is p are event.
In the west of England the precipita-
ton is somewhat more abundant.
Thus, on July IA, 1875, in Monmouth
shire, $50 inches fell in twenty-four
hours, and on June 80, 1881, at Seath-
waithe, 40 inches fell in the same
space of time. The average annual
rainfall at the last named place, in
deed, is l54 inches-a record not to
be matched elsewhere out of the trop-
les. The wettest parts OF the globe
are naturally such as are exposed to
westerly winds blowing over extensive
ocean tracts, and depositing their
moisture on the first coast they meet.
Such places are the Khasia Hills, in
Assam, with Cherraponga, where the
annual rainfall is, according to Scott,
400 inches, aud according to Lyman
600 inches. This would give a pre-
Crpitation Of 10000 tons to the acre,
and 5000, 900 tons to the square
mile. 1t represents n body OF water,
III fact, 80 feet i'll depth. There is, as
might be supposed, no such tremend-
Gus precipitation in any other partof
the globe, though several places do
their best to emulate Cherraponga.
The Western Ghauts OF India are per-
haps first in importance of these,
where a record OF 2GO inches is found
for one yedr, Next comes B~uitenzey,
in Java, with 100 inches, and Seath-
waite, England, runs it close with l54
inches. Bergen, in Norway, Sitka, in
Alaska, Naldivia, in Southern Chilli
and a place in New Zealand follow,
while Maranhao in Brazil holds its
own very sturdily. 1t appears that
an elevation ofabout 1000 feet above
the sea level affordsth most favorable
conditions (other things being equal
for the heaviest precipitation, for that
is the height of both Cberrapcnga and
Mahabulashma in theWesternGhauts.
On the plains in our western states
have occurred what are termed ''cloud
bursts" and the precipitation Is prob
ably as heavy as that OF the Gibraltar
waterspout mentioned above, though
no record has yet been obtained OF
such phenomena. In New England
remarkable rain-falls have been ra.e
and exceptional, and nfthe exceptional
periods the present month OF August
will doubtless hereafter BE regarded
as one.-Boston Traveller.