Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-11
The Wind and the Movement Of the
Atmosphere.

10 the Eultor OF IKE EVENING STAR:
To the casual observer the movement OF the
atmosphere and that movement OF the air which
we term the wind, may seem to be the same; but
while they belong TO the same physical develop
ment they are quite unlike In their nature.
The movement OF the atmosphere Is the grand
movement, Like the movement OF the earth around
the sun, While the wind is mere subdetail.
The grand movement we are no more personally
conscious OF than We are OF the movement OF our
earth Ia the ecnptc; IL makes no sign. like the
wind, whereby We may be aware OF Its existence
But for that late product N, the weather map, we
would still te IA as much ignorance OF this in'-
portant phenomenon a. the Ignorant person is OF
the yearly movement OF the earth around the sun
The grand movement of the atmosphere L. from
the west toward the east, or toward the rising
sun. But because "a this statement TIE reader
must hot Jump at the conclusion las IL seems some
have that there rs regular now OF ait, like the
ent OF river, In an eastery direction, Tor such
is not the case. The movement is peculiar, and,
In detail quite unlike any OF the other physical
phenomena In creation. Instead ~ being steady
flow like the river, IL Is quit irregular. with local
movements directly opposite To That OF the grand
According TO the old system IL was thought IN It
the atmosphere bore about the same relation 20
the earth that the air about Us does to giooe put
In motion by some mechanic al continuance VI man.
And we nave the diagonal currents, say the
southwest breezes, accounted Tor on the basis OF
5 Sesmesn 1se sonih Winds and the west Winds or
currents According TO this idea the southwest
winds would be the compromise OF the winds from
the south being Carried, under certain con-
ditions, toward the east All this Is
now daily shown 10 be the merest
nonsense, and In the future viii stand only as an
eyidepcr OF the ingenuity OF the human intellect
In at empting TO solve the mysteries OF nature
without facIs, and as an illustration Of the weak
forced by the perceptive element BY the percept-
i've element We obtain factA by the reflective we
formulate these facts, but unless we have the facts
the formulation doesn't amount TO much The
movement OF our atmosphere has no relaIion 70
any such movement OF the earth and the atmos-
phere which encircles H. ~ would be imputed by
lialn m nj m an IA Nd
the Old system.
First, we have aplaneL This planet has what
Term az TS. p eysF turepg ON .s ss
and moving about q central orb We Term the sun,
whereby IL receives It's light and heat From the
inequality OF surface and the constant motion the
heat power OF the sun Is ever changing and quite
irregular, concentrated more at some places than
on the FOB: is evaporarsd. forming ciouds But
FOR the concentration we term SLOW" dow barorn-
eteI1 these clouds would have no percepuble move
ment; they would remain suspended, obstructing
the light OF the sun, and We would be In perpetual
fog, or condition OF light rains. As these clouds
Increased IN weight they would slowly preciptate,
and at the most we would have at times only
nne driZzle.
Bun the factor slow, /" whereby the currents we
term the winds are caused, comes in and concen-
all over the globe.
The thigh" (high barometer, is the opposite OF
the s1ow," and Is represented in the localities
where the atmosphere is cleared by the Winds OF
the perceptible suspended moisture
These ighs" and slows are located ali over
the surface OF the globe, and travel AFTER the
other, In irregular belts, ever toward the east,
thereby producing general movement OF the al
mosphere In this direction. As these s.highsr and
slows" are thus distributed and ever on the move.
t follows that all over tue earth the local currents
which we designate as the winds, will be from and
toward all points OF the compass, and Away from
the "high" toward the slow" The general move
ments we are not personally conscious on,
ana are only c0gnizant OF oy Iie
daily observations or the changes constantly
going on The local movement even we cannot
see with our eyes. We only know OF IL oy It's el-
feet or by its artificial colorng. as seen In the
movement OF bodies like dusi, &c, carried along
by II when the current Is sufncienLly STRONG:
The wind Is the mere local movement, ana may
be, at many places at the same time, uoin Al
points OF the compass, while the movemen. u .ne
slows" and 'higns" ever toward the east - uss
general or grand move ment whereby the atmos-
phere the globe Is renovated and kept IN suass-
bic condition for the use OF all created naSvre