The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-02-07
Report for january, 1890.

Maximum temperature on the 18th, 81 degrees
in the shade, SO degrees in the sun; minimum
temperature on the I'D, 10 degrees; mean tenn
perature, Al degrees; rain tall LA inches.
/ find by my record that we have not had so
high mean temperature for January in the past
10 years. January, 1880, gave mean tempera-
ture of 4013 degrees, or within seven eighths of
degree of the mean of the last month. while jan
uary of the next year. 1881 gave the lowest mean
that have yet recorded for January, viz, 25.05.
In the very warm January of 1880, there was a
maximum temperature of 63 degrees. and min
imum varying from degrees TO 16 degrees ac-
cording to location, as reported from various
points in the neighborhood; here l6 degrees No
ice was gathered the air was kept saturated by
east and southeast winds throughout the month,
which, in this feature, was very like the past
month. February followed also very warm
warmer than any February since. The first week
of March was continuation of the warm wealth
er of January and February. the balance of the
month was rough and cold. The next winter,
that of 1881, was severe season.
The summer temperature of 50 degrees in the
sun at z. NJ. on the 18th of last month proba-
bly, surpasses all record for this latitude.
The rain fall. 1.94 inches, is Two inches below
the mean for January during the 10 years Most
IN 1882, 663 inches; least in 1872. l.20 inches 1t
rained more or less on about IL days, most on the
18th, 0.62 of an inch several of the other rains
were merely sprinkles. barely measurable. No
snow, unless few flakes fell 1t will be noticed
that while December and January have been
three-fourth inches in all have fallen during both
months. This unusually mild weather is doubt
less to be ascrlbed to the saturated condition Of
earth and air. The past year was wet beyond all
precedent, and while the heavy rain falls have
ceased, the prevailing east, south and southwest
winds continue, and keep the air loaded with
moisture, and every slight depression in tenn
perature fills the air with misty rain. and this
condensation brings out the latent heat of the
vapor and raises the temperature. The effects
of a saturated atmosphere are fully shown in the
mild climate of the north Pacific coast. The
winter temperature of Alaska is scarcely lower
than our own. In the conversion of water into
vapor, in the process of boiling. the water in the
vessel is at 2l2 degrees and the fire beneath the
vessel at 1900 degrees, the difference, 1000 de-
grees, is conveyed away in the rising vapor, and
as this vapor is again condensed, this heat con-
veyed away in latent state is slowly driven
out. In this way the warmth of the tropics and
of the Atlantic and Pacific Gulf streams is car
red over the bordering regions of the colder
zones and so large bodies of water mitigate the
cold of the ighboring coasts. What conditions
have combined to direct the winds and convey
the clouds during the past year are beyond our
ken. In some discussions of the subject see
tendency to consider these mild conditions per-
manent, but feel sure that there is no reason
for this expectation. Next winter may be very
severe one, as the winter of 1881 following the
mild winter of 1880. l have an old record of q
mild winter in Poland, under the 18th degree OF
north latitude, where the rivers are usually
blocked with ice from October till the vernal
covered with flowers in the month of January,
the wheat sprang forth and grew till its spikes
were formed and the music of the birds re-
echoed through the groves, but in the month OF
March there came a sudden and intense cold-in
one night all the riches of this winter summer
were annihilated.
report, from the saturated condition of earth
and air, suggested the probability that our win
ter would be mild one, if we were left to home
influences. L recall this fact merely to show
that the explanation here advanced preceded
the facts and in 50 much is the better authenti-
Gated. would in no wise appear as the conven-
tonal weather prophet. remark ST. Paul once
made seems to apply forcibIy to weather pro-
phecies: For we know in part and prophecy in
part G. &. G.
Oakland School, FdlLSton.
P. SIN the freeze of the 22d it is said that a
few in the county gathered ice from to inches
thick. John Curry, of Upper Cross Roads,
gathered loads of ice more than inches thick,
and John Moores, near Bel Air, secured partial
supply.