St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1890-06-07
WEATHER PREDICTION.



rosecasts Can He llaAe.
NJ. Luigi Pslmier, the learned d.
rector of the observatory Of vesavius.
has made himself . specialist in ques-
tions appertaining to the electricity Of
the earth. For some forty years he has
studied this question, and has published
various papers and moro than hum
dred notes or memoira Unfortunately
for science, he has thought we'll 70 pub
lish them. not only in Italian. but In
local papers having naturally restrict
ed circulation. DR.. Albert Battander
gives, in Cosmos. . resume Of the results
obtained by NJ. Palmieri, which bid fair
to prove Of considerable importance. II
not in the Geld Of electrical engineer.
ing, in that Of meteorology and the
prediction Of weather. n. Pal
mieri indicates. first that the po-
tentisl Of objects which exceed
the height Of the surrounding earth diff
for from it in sign, in fair weather be-
ing negative. and positive only when
rain, hail, or snow fall within . Ger
tain distance Of the observations. Sec-
ondly, the electricity Of objects exceed.
ing in height the surface Of tho earth
Is not their own, 20 to speak, but u due
to the induction of the atmosphere.
He indicates. for example. that II
Vesuviua were negative while Naples
below were positive, and this were due
to different disposition Of electricity On
their surfaces, the two would tend 70
flow together and equalize; whefeasthis
Is found not to be the case. The cleo
tricity is, therefore. due to induction.
and Is 30 maintained while the inductive
influence Is steady, changing - it
changes. NJ. Palmieri has repeated
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 IL positive and that
OF tho air negative. He gives two ex-
periments showing tho influence Of the
natural changes in the atmosphere. A
platinum cup, filed with water and
thoroughly insulated, IL connected 70
the plate Of condenser electrometer. the
whole exposed to the suns rayA The
evaporation reveals the presence Of
negative electricity. Inversely. II the
same cup Is filed with snow, the dew
which Is formed produces signs Of post
tive electricity, the conditions Of suo-
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. Tho
question Of the effect upon the electric
lty Of the air. Of plants. treeA or Of the
sun. has also beea carefully studied.
and If IL IL objected that
these discussions are purely in the Aeld
of speculation, NJ. Pslmieri responds
that in these electrical indications ~
should feel the most sure means Of the |
prediction of weather. In fact accord |
ing to tho director Of the vesuvian OBJ
We must discard our old |
friend the barometer - the indicates. Of |
weather changes. which can not achieve
more than eighty per cont Of success in
prediction, and take the electrometer.
which never Is found in default He
lrgues for the extension Of electrometef /
ct numerous stations, With l
standardized 70 the sane
measure, adapted with methods Of test
ng the varying layers Of atmosphere, |
ind believes the time Of -absolute pro-
LECTION Of weather to be no longer IN
Utopian dream. = Elec-
rical Engineer.