The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-05-23

l{eNrs f~NHfLaE
ENERGY OF STORMS.
Some f the Laws md Tfaeuries q Meteor
illogical P~honuiuona.
II. A. Hazen, in discussing the subject in.
the st. Louis Globe-Democrat, states that
tho theory was advanced by Espy in 1885
that the energy of our storms and tornadoes
was entirely due to tho latent heat set free
In the condensation Of the aqueous vapor in
the air. Hc supposed that primary impulse
was g.sen to an ascending current by the
heat of the sun fallingupon . certain limited
portion of tho earth, and that saturated air in
this ascending current, through expansion
and cooling, had its moisture condensed.
This condensation liberated the latent heat
stored up through the process of evapora-
ton. and this in turn heated up the air, pro
ducing q rarcfaction and an increased up
ward motion. Tho longer this process went
on the more intense the action became, tho
more heat was evolved, and thus more and
moro force wa evolved. Prof. Ferrel
adopted this view in part, and said that
without tho action Of some constant force
tue primary impulse would rapidly lose its
intensity through friction. and thus tho dis
turbancc wouldAuickly come toan end. This
constant force he maintained WA the heat
ing Of the mr. through condensation, etc, as
set.forth by Espy. Prof. Mohn, n Of the
most prominent metcorologists of Europe,
has gone still further, and has computed
the amount of energy brought out in de-
veloping q single Cuban hurricane during
October s, 9, Z, 1914. He says: ssIhe Cuban
hurricane, in moving the in-flowing air, de-
veloped at least Az, $780, 600 horse power in
these three days-that is, at least fifteen
times as much energy as comes from all
wind mills, water wheels, steam engines,
locomotives, man md animal power Of the
whole earth at the same time" He states
that all this power needed in the storm gen.
Grafton came from the latent heat set free
in the process OF condensation.
This, then, must be considered the chief
cornerstone of theories in regard to storm
formation. 1t seems exceedingly probable,
however, that this enormous development
of energyis purely and highly imaginary,
n that II Is an attempt to make something
out of next to nothing. While undoubtedly
latent heat will be evolved IL vapor be con-
dcnsed, yet this evolution would seem to
bring certain death to the very process Of
condensation. Suppose we have q mass Of
air and could condense its moisture without
altering its temperature, tho latent heat set
free would make just enough sensible heat
to again evaporate b moisture, and there
would be no rain, but every thing would re-
main in statu quo. Suppose, however, we
take away enough heat to cool the air 10 de-
grees for each cubic foot, this would amount
to the heat necessary to evaporate one
seventh OF q grain OF moisture n must be
taken in part at least from the surrounding
air. II we cool the air 1 degree 1t will con-
dense O certain amount Of moisture, de-
p%endingupon the temperature, and this will
liberats exactly the same amoun of heat
that was used In the original evaporation.
In order to absorb this heat it is necessary
to cool the condensing air, and this can only
be done by imparting still more heat tothe
surrounding air, 80 that we have increased
the temperature of the environment in two
ways, and thus have put a stopto al lfurther
development.
For example, let u cool o cubic foot Of
saturated air from so to 20 degrees, and let
us suppose that the heat impaired to the
surrounding air is all concentrated in O sim
gle cubic foot close by the first. We now
have / cubic foot of saturated air at 20 de-
grees and another of unsaturated air at
about 81 degrees. The coolingto 20 degrees
has condensed one-third grain of moisture,
and this has liberated latent heat which can
be disposed or only by heatlng the adjacent
cubic foot to 80 degrees. We have, then, II
there is no flaw in the reasoning, one-third
grain of moisture as rainfall, 1 cubic foot Of
saturated air ut 20 degrees and another of
unsaturated air at 1888. Suppose we mix
these, we shall have 2 cubic feet Of air at
about 81 degrees and unsaturatcd, hence no
further rainfall can occur till this is again
cooled, and it can not be cooled except at
the expense of the surrounding air. It is
plain that this will be the effect even with
the most intinitesimal cooling and conden.
sation, hence we must conclude that no up
a~pprcciablc rainfall Gun occur by these
processes, and the enormous energy devcl-
oped is a Pigment of the imagination, or else
that the heat evolved has been changed to
electricity or radiated into space or disposed
Of in some other way. The processes here
in set forth seem to be exactly analogous to
those taxing place when two masses of sat
urated air or widely-dihering temperature
are nixcdto :ethcr, in which case all meteor
ologists are agreed there can be no appre
ciable rainfall, and, of course, no devel
opment of energy.
This seems q very startling result, and
some will ask: What can we substitute az
q cause of stormsa 1t Is believed by q grea'
many intelligent people that meteorolog,
has not yet taken its first step toward a sat
isfactory solution of its profoundest prob
lens, and there has been scarcely o well
authenticated principle established even ii
the simpler problems. We may we'll con
clude that the principal reason for this ha,
been the extreme proneness to adopt doubt
full hypothesis, which has greatly ham
neutrality-suspicious.. One of the first step
ia to disprove these theories before we cal
lay the foundation Of q better structure
The only possible way in whichwe can hop
to learn the formation Of our storms ant
the laws governing their movement is II
investigate them in the open air, where, a
it is now admitted by all, their power lies
This knowledge, it will be rendily admitted
would be Of incalculable benefit to all classc
Of people, but especially to those living ii
tornado districts, to seafaring men and t
farmers. It is to be hoped that those inter
ested will turn their attention to this sui
ject, but IL not, in this evening of the nine
teenth century there will undoubtedly 500
be a demand from many classes Of peopl
that the investigation be- undertaken. Wit
our modern appliances this may be made q
very slight expense and with entire safet
TO tho investigator.
The Fascination Of Danger.
"Why how's this, MIR. Cashcre7" aske
Pennywait, who had Just returned to tow
after two weeks absence. s.Whcn I left
the great volume of travel was on the sout
sid of your business street, and now tina
side is almost deserted and the north side
thronged with pedestrians. What has g
fected the change" 1.-THE crowd,' e,
planned Mr.. Cashere. twas only diverted I