The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1889-07-13
HOW nor WAVES Are FORMED


The present heated spell has drawn
attention to the periodical fluctuations
Of heat energy, which produce what
E Is called ,hot waves. These waves
have sometimes been assigned to some
occult influence 81 tile moon, but Il
careiul aud rigid examination OF tint
taeorg by meleoraloglsts has resulted
III proving II ialiacious.
Other causes for hot spells, therefore
must be Investigated. Of these, the in
fuence OF prevailing winds for any
region in summer Is the most import-
ant. A glance at the map, showing
the physical conformation of the Uni-
ted States, will exhibit the long val
ley of the Mississippi river extending
from the Gulf Of Mexico to the Great
Lakes.
In the Gulf, under the fierce rays Of
radient energy rom the sun, the eyap-
oration Is comparatively speaking,
enormous. Tie hot winds from the
South bring nofthward immense
quantities OF aqueous yapor, held in
solution, So to speak, by the nlmos-
phere. On the other hand, the winds
from an area Of high pressure, which
generally move soulhward, ore cold and
dry. The high areas are developed IN
the British Possessions, ana invariably
move into tie united States from
Manitoba and that section contiguous
to Il.
Owing to causes easily ascerained
on Astronomical principles, tie great
southerly drift from the Gulf prevails
in tic central portion of the United
States in summer.
Ifauv observer notes the wind dlree-
tian ami the humidity of the air fnf
few days IN July and August, and
find i steady current from the South
with slowly increasing humidity, II
can safely predict II "hn; spell is rai-
idly approaching. To the ordinary
at.zrrvc', IT Is marvellous that such g.
rilmlluIs occur Hhiie the sources II
al heat appear l. remain uniform
Tie sun, tie source Of ail heat, dses
uol blow hot aud cold. II remains
aboyc tie horizon, raGHtiug is ener-
- uut tNard 10 all space for nearly tie
same time each day, yet one day Is
cnpl y; temperature ut Il deg, an
IN u day or t@o more We are sweiter-
ing in tle torfid zone temperature 81
l00 deg
one ot the greatest factors III pro-
ducing this wide diversity IN tenn
pcraturc is the relative humidity OF
absolute amount Of moisture IN tie air.
This vapor is gas and invisible un-
Ill condensed into clouds, rain, etc.
The heat received from the sun suf-
fers ABSORPTION in its passage through
moist atmosphere, aud of that por
ton OF il which come To the earth
some is radiated back to the sly.
TINS is stopped and absorbed by the
aqueous vapor, aud very 80 the air
Is supsrhratcd Thus the iempera-
iurp of the air Is raised excessively by
the presence OF the invisible yapor,
aud these conditions produce what are
denominated, very incorrectly, hot
waves.
The conditions for The continuance
of the heated term depend on tn
southeriy Wiuds-yapor-iad md OF
themselves hot and also the absence
of the cooling influence of the great
nnrthcrly drift from Manitoba.
When the daily weather reports
an area of high baremetric pressure,
adyau.ing sau'h.ard toward ihe
Great Lakes, the influence of the COLI,
dry wiads which accompany It's Pru-
or, s., change n this aud make a
"tcot wave
The agricultural section of Tie COM
mmuv should notice when the peea
ir sensations Of sultriucss aud o.
preston becomes felt, and the air Is
snpcrhealed u wrli IA saturated.
This is the time of danger. rs the at
nlosnhcrc is Liable Ia assume whit is
called "uaslabie equilibrium aud
destructive storms cnSue owing 10 the
abnurmal state Of the air Cincinnati
Enquirer.
ever ia Biggs. Cal, few Sundays
aqo a Baptist preacher named James
toid The people, rs the la: Vas being
+ I L.. f.t,st IL