Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-05-16
WEATHER PREDICTION.
Tho Time Not Far Distant When Reliable
Forecasts Can Be Made.

forecasts Can Be Made.
M. Luigi Palmieri, the learned d.
rector of the observatory of Vesuvfus,
has made himself a specialist in ques-
tions appertaining tx the electricity OF
the earth. For some forty years he has
studied this question, and has published
various papers and more than hun
dred notes or memoirs. Unfortunately
for science, he has thought well to pub
lish them, not only in Italian, but in
local papers having naturally restrict
ed circulation. DR.. Albert Battander
gives, in Cosmos, a resume of the results
obtained by M. Palmieri, which bid fair
to prove of considerable importance, if
| not in the field of electrical engineer
ing, in that of meteorology and the
| prediction of weather. M. Pal
mieri indicates, first, that the po-
tential of objects which exceed
the height of the surrounding earth diff
fer from it in sign, in fair weather be-
ing negative, and positive only when
rain, hail, or snow fall within a GER
tain distance of the observations. Sec
ondly, the electricity of objects exceed
ing in height the surface of the earth
is not their own, so to speak, but is due
to the induction of the atmosphere.
He indicates, for example, that if
Vesuvius, were negative while Naples
below were positive, and this were due
to different disposition of electricity on
their surfaces, the two would tend to
flow together and equalize; whereas this
IS found not to be the case. The elec-
tricity is, therefore, due to induction,
and is so maintained while the inductive
influence is steady, changing as it
changes. M. Palmieri has repeated
his experiments some thousands of
times since 1850 in varied man
ners to eliminate errors, and
he satisfactorily proves that the
electricity of the air is contrary in
sign to that of the earth. The cleo
tricity of the earth is positive and that
OF the air negative. He gives two eX-
periments showing the influence of the
natural changes in the atmosphere. A
platinum cup, filed with water and
thoroughly insulated, is connected to
the plate of condenser electrometer, the
whole exposed to the suns rays The
evaporation reveals the presence of
negative electricity. Inversely, if the
same cup is filled with snow, the dew
which is formed produces signs of posi-
tive electricity, the conditions of sue
cess in the experiment being the use of
the condenser on account OF the feeble.
ness of the potential, and the most care.
full insulation of platinum cup. The
question of the effect upon the electric.
ity of the air, of plants, trees, or of the
sun, has also been carefully studied
and if it is objected that
these discussions are purely in the field
of speculation, M. Palmieri responds
that in these electrical indications we
should feel the most sure means of the
prediction of weather. In fact, accord
ing to the director of the Vesuvan OBJ
servatory, we must discard our old
friend the barometer as the indicator o.
weather changes which can not achieve
more than eighty per cent. of success il
prediction, and take the electrometer
which never is found in default. He
argues for the extension of electrometel
observations at numerous stations, with
instruments standardized to the same
, measure, adapted with methods of test
\ ing the varying layers of atmosphere
= and believes the time of absolute pre-
diction of weather to be no longer al
unrealizable, Utopian dream, - Elec
trical Engineer.