Roseburg review. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 1885-1920, 1885-02-27
ROSEBURG REVIEW
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 81, 1885
Correct rsrninoiogy.

In view of the confusion that now
exists in the use of the words tornado"
and "cyclone," the attention OF the
public is requested to the following
brief description of the characteristics
of these very distinct kinds Of storms,
III order to attain, if possible, the desir-
able end Of uniform terminoiogy:
CYCLONE. A name suggeeted by
Piddington in Est India, about forty
years ago, to apply to the violent
storms of the Bay of Bengal and other
tropical regions; synonymous with "ty-
phoon" of the China Seas and sshurri-
cane" of the West Indies. A broad
stoIm, from 100 to 500 miles in diam
eter, characterized hy a broad disc,
from which heavy rain falls; with spiral
inward blowing winds of destructive
violence near the GENRE, but with
calm space {ten or fifteen miles in di-
ameter) at the centre itself, known as
the seye Of the storm" The barometer
always records d low atmospheric pres
sure near the storm-ccntre. Cyclones
Lave progressive motion, not directly
tisable; but apparent III the passing
changes of the weather that they bring.
The broad storms, often of but mc9er-
ate violence, accompanied by heavy
wide-spreading sheetof cloud with rain
or SHOW, bring warm weather in their
front half and cold in their rear, which
frequently covers considerable num-
Der of our states at once, Fexhibit nearly
NIL the physical peculiarities Of cyclones
although this name is not generally
applied to them by all meteorologists
In our country such cyclonic storms
never leave a narrow path of destruct-
i've action along the track Of their CEN
tral passage, bu. they are rather bsne-
fetal than otherwise, as they bring the
greater share Of our rains. AS whole
these cyclonic storms travel across the
country, from west to east, at rate of
twenty-five to thirty miles an hour, the
same storm often endures for week
and its path may be followed for several
thousand miles.
ToRNADoEs.- very violent local
storms, which appear, from records
made by the numerous volunteer lorna
do reporters in cooperation with the
Signal service, to be generated only IN
certain parts Of the broad, relatively
harmless cyclonic storm. Tornadoes
are marked by their well-known whirl-
ing funnel cloud, and by their narrow
path of destruction, within which few
structures can withstand their violence
They are, therefore, very local. They
advance at rate of twenty i've to thir-
ty miles an hour, corresponding to the
progression of the great cyclonic storm
within which they-'ess' ses.e,'.ts;;s';;sfld md
single tornado seldom endures molt
than an hour or two. A number oi
tornadoes frequently occur on the same
day in adjacent states, they are com
monty associated with thunder storms
and with gales or squalls of violent
straight-line winds. The name ''tcrna-
do" has been used as here indicated
since the early part of this century IL
this conntry and in Europe. Its re-
placement by ''cyclone" is very recen
and should lie avoided in order to pre-
vent confusion.
1t is desired to give this matter az
general publicity as possible So as tc
gam, in the coming tornado season, ;
use of the words tornado" and "cy-
clone" that shall correspond with thei
original and technical meanings, ant
with their terminology of meteorole-
gists throughout the world
The Signal Service reports never ap
ply the word "cyclone" to our western
"tornadoes" and it is hoped that tn
press of the United States will follow
the usage of the Service.
w. B. HAZEN.
The above was handed us by Mr.
Marry. our Signal Officer at this place.