Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-01-08
COLD WAVES.

The cold wave is q thing we read so much
about and experience so often that it would
be interesting to understand something OF
IFS origin, but notwithstanding that the sig
nal service wiseacres FIRE many mysterious
works on the subject at US. filed with seien-
tifc federal, no intelligent theory as to the
causes that produce these billiards is vouch-
safed.
There is Just now at hsnd "a preliminary
study" Of Gold Waves and Their Pro-
yress," from which one would naturally ex-
pett to get q fair stock of curious informa-
ton relative to these meteorological phenom-
ena SO prevalent in recent years, and 1t GER
,ainly is disappointing if not provoking to
fad n school boy chronicle Of superficial
facts and nm obvious lodging of all per-
pl-xi,ies of the subject.
We are wisely told that cold waves may
originate in areas of high barometer follow
ing in upon areas Of low barometer, moy-
ing from west to east, profund conclusion
that must strike the dull world dumb With
wonder. II is with unspeaksble admiration
We read such evidences of unfathomabie
sapieucy As this: rs the cold the effect OF
AN area of high barometer, or Is the area
of high barometer due to decrease OF tenn
perature? The solution of these questions
would make our study quite simple and
give US very satisfactory way OF predicting
cold waves Our study must necessarily
include the study of the origin and progress
IF areas of high and low barometer, and,
indeed, to be more exac. we should con-
| slider the state of the weather, as TO whether
! it is raining or showing, or clear or eloaoy-
Though Montana and Dakota are charged
with being the breeding ground Of thee
atmospheric disturbances, We are not a.
lowed 10 know how they get their start moi
why they operate as a trinity. We are told
that the rate of progress of these waves Is
| variable; there are cases when the influence
is felt simultaneously at Helena and Bis
marck, distance Of $40 miles intervening
| while at other times there is difference Of
| G, 8. I6, "a, and even 80 hours. Hence We
are very much bewildered by the eapricious
conduct of these aerial monsters.
1t sometimes happens, says our Washing
ton scientist, tha: cold wave sets in from
| the extreme northwest, and upon reaching
the Mississippi divides, part going north
easterly and the other part southeriy
This split appears to diminish the in
| tensity. But il is NOT always well TO inter
rupt one of these waves in the hope
of weakening its force. fhe dividing
| action "seens generally Ia be due to the
sudden development of storm oomew here
| in the Missouri valley" but sometimes these
retardlng or sub dividing storms operate tc
enrage the cold wave, which seems thereby
ito gather force and intensity, and rushing
rapidly forward, spreads over the entire
country" 1t is pleasant after this confus'
ing confession of ignorance 10 encounter
| this delightful bit Of Jack Bunsby philoso-
phv: "If the storm have considerable
energy. the 'norther' is severe and sudden
Nothing could be clearer than this, and
we can not fail to admire the extraordinary
intelligence that could evolve from th,
mystery Of atmospheric science such
startling facts as these, contained in ih'
resume: Gold waves are mort numerous
ard severe in the winter months tJanuary
February, and March, their appearance
is independent Of the time of day;' ''th'
most decided and most severe cold wave
follow severe storms" 1.-The prediction of th'
progress of cold wsves is as yet attended b,
great difficulties, and the accuracy of pre-
dic,ions largely depends upon the deterrnin
alton of the path md progress of the cente'
Of low barometer" "we must conclude tina
they have their origin in the vast regions o
ice and snow near the arctic circle, far 10 tn
north of our stations" And We have nt
difficulty in concluding that what the sigma
service bureau does net know about colS
waves is more evident in the pamphlet than
| its knowledge"