Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-02-21
Tnrnadoes nnd CY.lones.

In view of the confusion now ex-
isting In the use of the words 'tor-
nadop and "cyclone," the attention
of the public to the following brief
description OF the characteristics OF
these very distinct kinds Of storms,
in order to attain, il possible, the
desirable end of uniform termi-
nology:
Cvctone.-A name suggested by
Piddington In East India, about
forty years ago, to- apply to the VII
olent storms of the Bay OF Bengal
and other tropical regions; synon-
ynous with typhOon OF the China
Seas and hurricane OF the West In
dies. A broad storm, from 100 TO
500 miles in diameter, characterized
bv broad cloud disc, from which
heavy rain falls; with spiral in-
ward blowing winds OF destructive
violence near the centre, but with
calm space 40 or 10 miles ia diam
eter) at the centre itself, known as
the "eye of the Storm" The ba-
rometer always records low atmos-
pheric pressure near the storm-ten-
tire. Cyclones have a progress
sive motion, not directly visible,
but apparent in the passing changes
of the weather that they bring.
The broad storms, often OF but mod
crate violence, accompanied by a
heavy wide-spreading sheet OF cloud
with rain or snow, bringing warnl
weather in their front half and cold
in their rear, which frequently COW
ers a considerable number OF our
States at once, exhibit nearly all
the physical peculiarities Ofcyclones
although this name il not yet gen.
eraIly applied to them by all mele-
oroloyisis, In our country such cy-
clonic storms neUer leave narrow
pnth of destructive action along the
track of their central passage, but
they are rather beneficial than 9TH
erwise, as they bring the greater
share OF our rains. AS a whole,
these cycIonic storms travel across
the country, from west to east. al
rate OF 25 or 80 miles an hour the
same storm often endures Tor
week and its path may be followed
for several thousand miles.
T0rnadOes. - Are violent local
storms, which appear, from records
made by the numerous volunteer
tornado reporters in cooperation
with the Signal Service, to be gen
Grated only In certain parts OF the
broad relatively harmless cyclone
sform. Tornadoes are marked by
their weil-known whirling funnel
rloud. and l.y their narrow path o!
destruction, within which few struc-
lures can withstand their violence.
They are. therefore, very local.
They advance at "A rate Of 20 or ~
miles an hour, corresponding TO the
progression of the great cyclonic
storm within which they are gene
rated and "A single tornado seldom
endures more than an hour or two.
A number OF tornadoes frequently
occur on the same day in adjacent
States, they are commonly assocla-
ted with thunder-storms and with
gales or squalls of violent straight
line winds. The name tornado mas
been used as here indicated since
, the early part OF this century IL
, this country and In Europe. It's re.
/ placement by cyclone IL very receu'
and should be avoided in order &c
I prevent confusion.
1t is desired to give this circulal
y as general publicity as possible, SC
, as to gain, in the coming tornado
{ season. n use Of the words t0TRddl
/ aud cycLORs that shall corresponc
I with their original and technica
!, meanings, and with the terminoio
: gy of meteorologists throughout In
e world.
( The Signal Service reports neve
: apply the word cyclone to our south
4 ern and western tOTnGdOes and II d
: hoped that the daily press OF tn
I United States will follow the usag
h Of the Service.