The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1889-03-15
CYCLONES AND T0RNADOES,
STORM CNNTERS AND THEIR
CAUSE AID EFFECT EXPLAINED.
Groundwork Of Weather Predio'
tions-How Storm Trough Is
Formed and a Cyclone Produced

Groundwork Of Weather Predfo
tions-How q Storm Trough i:
Formed and a Cyclone Produced
It would probably startle many people
were they to be told that every storm
that occurs is cyclone, yet, to certain
extent, such statement would be cor
rect. Every storm is cyclonic in it
nature; that is to say, it has in large
degree the elements that form the un'
pleasant characteristics of what is popu.
larly termed "cyelons." It was moi
many years ago that people generally
thought of Kansas whenever cyclone was
mentioned visions of dark, funnel-shaped
clouds and flying roofs were cor. .ured ur
by the word, and 1t was popular idea
that in Kansas the cyclone made its
home, and only wandered beyond the
States boundaries on mere depredato.y
excursions, and never travelled very fal
from headquarters. Such, indeed, wa
the vague, loose idea that folks possessed.
That better knowledge of the subject
has spread Of late years is due to the in
vestigations and utteranceS of sci
entists, who have made the subject OF
storms and their peculiarities special
study.
Storms are produced by sudden rise
in large body of mir, which causes that
around to rush in to take its place.. This
causes whirling such as is produced
when two currents of water meet. In
the immediate center there is no agita-
tion, almost calm, the air surging this
way and that without any definite direc-
ton, except upward. Farther out the
air currents flow toward this center, in
direction generally tangent to the
center, which is circular at first. Thus
for miles around the storm the wind
blows inward, forming great whirl-
pool Of air. When this phenomenon oc-
ours on large scale, the center extend
ing over several square niles. the dis
turbance is denoted storm, or, in the
parlance of the meteorologlsts, Glow" "
This latter word comes from the con-
dition Of the barometer that precedes
and accompanies the storm.
When the center is small, and concen-
trated over q narrow area, with high
winds flowing in from all directions 1t
is usually denoted a cyclone, or a tor
nado. These latter storms come sud-
denly, usually without warning, and are
terrible in their destruction. The air
seems solid, SO fercely does it beat
against and overpower solid objects.
Trees are twisted from their rootings,
small objects are whirled from the sur.
face, and even houses are shattered by
the sudden and resistless movements OF
the air. In the past few years great
fortunes have been lost through the de-
struction of property by these terrific
whirlwinds.
On first forming, the storm is gener,
ally almost circular, and is usually large.
In this country the majority of them
form, or are first noted, in the south.
western portion of the United States,
and move toward the Atlantic Ocean il
q northeasterly direction. AS a storm
moves, the circular. center losses
its shape and elongates, slightly
at first. For sep1e indefinite
reason, this elongation ta}eseplace on
the southern side of the stpfm. This
elongated area of low pressure is called
"trough." AS the storm. .3aaSa6iesst: t:
yard the trough grorsr sr5fm ts1n 9R the
OF M,ltss1a Mck.c1 ~lts.e 81 Feat IaYe at even
happens, as was the case on the Occasion
of the great blizzard of March, 1885, that
the trough separates entirely from the
main or parent storm and forms a.sec.
ondary storm, which even becomes more
severe than the first one. THIS was what
happened in March, 1888. The southern
end of the trough broke of and began
moving rapidly up the Atlantic coast
until it reached the vicinity of New
York and Boston, where it. hung for
many hours, causing untold suffering
and damage.
It is when the trough of the storm be-
comes pronounced in its elongatlon that
a cyclone is liable to be formed. 1t must
he remembered. that the conditions
around the trough are the same rs those
around the center itself; the winds
blowing in the opposite directions In
ward. A strong gust OF wind blowing
into the trough meets another comlne
from across the way blowing equal!
hard. A sudden shock occurs and
! violent eddy of air is formed which, a.
the two currents continue to blow, be
comes the nucleus of q cyclone. /
forms, may be, in an instant, and ono
having. become in itself storm center
| it breaks off from the trough and take
mn n direction of its own, determined
by the first directions of the current
| that caused its existence.
The case of q spinning top will illus
trate the motion of tornado. While
is whirling around on its own axis ther
is a constant tendencysto move forWar
in a body, induced by the spinning
Thus the little storm-a pigmy with
giants strength-starts off on its ow
account as a sort of meteorological pr
vateer, and after traversing miles.'an
miles of country, destroying huma
lives and thousands of dollars worth
property, it gradually wears itself on
and the contrary winds cease their us'
less contention, as though they ha
reached the conclusion that it was tim
lost to try to blow each other away.
Such Is the cause and nature of thu
freak of nature commonly known as tt
cyclone. On the vast sand plains
Africa such storms are called tornadot
or whirlwinds, and often cause great d.
struction among caravans. The ligh
loose soil is taken up by the winds on
whirled into a column that ends in
dusty vapor where the wind spent
itoolf On the sea such storm carrl