Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-02-26
ENERGY OF STORMS.
some OF the Laws and Theories of Meteor
oiogical Phenomena,

the ST. Louis Globe-Democrat, states that
the theory was advanced by Espy in 1885
that the energy of our storms and tornadoes
was entirely due to the latent heat set free
IN the condensation of the aqueous vapor in
the air. He supposed that primary impulse
was 6. zen to an ascending current by the
neat OF the sun tallingu a certain limited
portion OF the earth, and that saturated air in
TINS ascending current, through expansion
and cooling, had it's 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-
ducinR rarefaction and an increased up
ward motion. The longer this process went
on the more intense the action became, the
more heatwas evolved, and thus more and
more force was evolved. Prof Ferrel
adopted this view in part and said that
without the action Of some constant force
the primary impulse would rapidly lose its
intensity through friction, and thus the dis
turbance wouldAuickly come to an end. This
constant force he maintained was the heat
ing Of the air through condensation, etc., as
set forth by Espy. Prof. Mohn, one of the
most prominent meteorologists of Europe,
has gone still further, and has computed
the amount of energy brought out in de-
veloping single Cuban hurricane during
October 5, 6, Z, 1874. He says: "The Cuban
hurricane, in moving the in-flowing air, de-
veloped at least 413, 10000 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 and animal power of the
whole earth at the same time" He states
that all this power needed in the storm gem
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 energy is purely and highly imaginary
and that II Is an attempt to make something
out Of next to nothing. While undoubtedly
latent heat will be evolved if vapor be con-
densed, yet this evolution would seem to
bring certain death to the very process Of
condensation. Suppose we have a mass of
air and could condense its moisture without
altering its temperature, the latent heat set
free would make just enough sensible heat
to again evaporate the 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 grain of moisture and must be
taken in part at least from the surrounding
air. II we cool the air degree it will con-
dense certain amount of moisture, de
pending upon the temperature, and this will
Gberate exactly the same amount of heat
that was used in the original evaporation
Inorder to absorb this heat it is necessary
to cool the condensing air, and this can only
be done by imparting still more heat to the
surrounding air, so that we have increased
the temperature of the environment in two
ways, and thus have put stopto all further
development.
For example, let US cool cubic foot of
saturated air from so to 70 degrees, and let
us suppose that the heat impaired to the
surrounding air is all concentrated in a sim
gle cubic foot close by the first. We now
have cubic foot of saturated air at 70 de-
grees and another of unsaturated air at
about 81 degrees. The coolingto 20 degrees
has condensed onethrd gram of mo: o:sture
and this has liberated latent heat wh.ch can
De disposed or only by heating the adjacent
cubic foot to 2.3 degrees. We have, then, if
there is no flaw in the reasoning, one-third
grain of moisture as rainfall, / cubic foot of
saturated air at 70 degrees and anoUher Of
unsaturated air at $685. Suppose we mix
these, we shall have 2 cubic feet of air at
about 81 degrees and unsaturated, 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. 1t is
plain that this will be the effect even with
the most inhnitesimal cooling and conden-
sation, hence we must conclude that no ap-
appreciable rainfall can occur by these
processes, and the enormous energy devel-
oped is tigment 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 taking place when two masses of sat
urated air or widely-differing temperature
are mixed together, in which case all meteor
ologists are agreed there can be no appre.
ciabe rainfall, and, of course, no devel-
opment of energy.
This seems very startling result, and
some will ask: What can we substitute as
a cause Of storms2 1t is believed by great
many intelligent people that meteorology
has not yet taken its first step toward sat
isfactory solution of its profoundest prob
lens, and there has been scarcely we'll
authenticated principle established even in
the simpler problems. We may well con-
clude that the principal reason for this has
been the extreme proneness to adopt doubt
full hypothesis, which has greatly ham
pered investigation. One of tls first steps
Is TO disprove these theories before we can
lay the foundation of a better structure.
The only possible way in which we can hope
to learn the formation of our storms and
the laws governing their movement is TO
investigate them in the open air, where, as
it is now admitted by all, their power hes
This knowledge, it will be readhvr Omitted,
would be of incalcuiable benefit to all classes
of people, but especially to those living in
tornado districts, 10 seafaring men and to
farmers. 1t is TO be hoped that those inter
ested will turn their attention To this sub
ject, but if not, in this evening OF the nine
teenth century there will undoubtedly soon
be demand from many classes o. people
that the investigation be undertaken. With
our modern appliances this may be made at
very slight expense and with entire safety
TO the investigator.
The Fascination of Danger.