Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1889-07-01
THE TRAoE.wlNos.
Their Cause and Nature Explained IN
simple Language. N

mind that the earth in tho center of
its circumference, at an equal dis
lance from the poles, Is divided by a
line called the equator into two hemi-
spheres-the northern and the south
|, ern. Across the equator, cutting 1t
obliquely, there passes another great
circle called the ecliptic, which de-
scribes the path the sun traverses.
1t extends 234 degrees north and 233
degrees south of the equator, which
is the utmost limit the sun traverses;
for, when arrived at either of these
boundaries, he again seems to return
towards the equator. 1t must be very
evident that the region of the earth
included within u circle drawn 23i
degrees north and 234 south Of tho
cquator-which will comprehend the
greatest portion of Africa, consider
able part OF Asia and America, and
many large, fertile and populous ISL
ands in the East and West Indies
will receive constantly the solar rays
in direction SO little oblique as TO
cause the most ;ntolerable heat. It
is, therefore, called the torrid zone;
and tho limits ut which the sun stops,
and appears to retrace his course,
have received the name of tropics, or
circles Of return. This being pre-
missed, and it being also remembered
that the earth revolves daily, "her
silent course advancing" round the
sun from west to east, the cause of
the trade-winds will be readily under
stood.
The rays of the sun. in it's apparent
motion from east to west, rarity tho
air beneath. and the air so rarified
rises into the higher regions of tho at
mospherc. While this takes place,
the colder air from the adjoining tenn
perate zones rushes in to supply it's
place. But it Is from the polar regions
north and south that these colder cur
rents originally come; and did tho
earth remain at rest, such would be
their obvious direction. Instead OF
this, however, north Of the equator tho
direction Of the trade winds is from
tho northeast; south of tho equator,
from tho southeast; tho cause of which
is thus cxplained:
Tho velocity with which tho earth
revolves is inconsiderable at the poles,
but increases as we advance, and is at
its maximum at the equator; tho winds,
in sweeping from tho poles, do not ac-
quire q corresponding velocity with
the motion Of tho earth as they adj.
vance towards the equator; therefore.
moving moro slowly than tho earth,
they arc left behind; SO that, to the
observer who imagines himself at rest,
the air appears to move in q direction
contrary to tho rotation of the earth,
viz, from east 10 west.
Tho external limits OF tho trade
winds arc thirty degrees moth and
thirty degrees south of the equator;
but each limit diminishes as tho sun
advances to the opposite t:op.c. Tho
larger the expnnse Of ocenn over which
they sweep. the more steadily do they
blow; accordingly. they arc moro
steady in the Pacific than in tho Allan
tic, and in the South than in tho North
Atlantic Ocean. Within the region
of the constant trade winds ruin seldom
occurs. but it falls abundantly in tho
adjoining latitudes. The reason Is.
that rain IS produced by tho sudden
turcs charged with moisture; but tho
constap& circulation and intermixturo
Of the 'htr from the upper strata of
the atmosphere maintains SO equal
temperature in these latitutes as not
to occasion Tho condensation of vapor
which is necessary for the production
Of rain.
Within tho limits Of tho trade-winds,
contrary to what might havo boon
supposed from tho latitude, tho atmo-
sphere is peculiarly cool and refresh
ing. Tho climate of tho Sandwich
Islands is far more cool than might be
supposed, Judging from their latitude.
To the trado-winds must this alone DO
attributed; md thus has Nature rom
derod O region, which would otherwise
have boon parchod. aid and uninhab-
table, cxuberant in beauty and mag
ntficancn Y .Ied,rnr