New-York tribune., 1890-05-29
DUoTOcplpHS or W1TERSPOUIS.

Amateur photographers have it. in their power
to serve the cause of weather science i'll many
WAYS but in none more effectively Just no" thah
by obtaining good pictures OF "atcrspou'S' IL"
observer is more likely to these curious marine
nbenomena while himself at sea, but occasionally
they are noticed on large bays, like the Chesapeake
or Delaware where good views may be obtained
ashore. Occasionally, too, they form on rivers
inland though i'm such cases their career Is usu-
ally limited to a very few minutes. lille the
whole column Of water and the dependent cloud
are of interest. the feature of most Importance,
mcteorologically is the base.
4 lively and serious contest is being waecd over
tho oucstion whether there is an ascending or de-
,ccnding current of air in tornado. VI. faye
holds not only that these slender but terrlhc
vLirls originate in the skies and are propaSo'cd
downward but also that air Is bodily sucked
from upper 10 lower levels by the eddy ana elec~n
on the surface of the earth. ON the o,hcr hah',
Fcrrcl. Finley and other scientists believe thao
near the surface OF the earth there Is an inward
suction toward the tornado shaft. with an ascend
ing currcut within. Iiy this means they helicNe,
various heavy bodies weighing many tons are car
Rod nm into the air and transported hundreds Of
wards, If not scores Of miles
on land what take, place AT tho lower extremity
al "A
q cloud of dust. to say nothing Of heavier debris.
Al sea the tornado becomes watcrspout; ana
although there is apt 70 he some ohScura'ion from
Hyiur Spray near the bottom OF the whirl YET me
shane assumed hy the more solid water thcrc
,youd hr visible 10 some extent and would aii"id
indications which are not 10 he had on terra irmo
II the yielding liquid heaps mp conlcaly, one
,yonld be warranted IN supposnS that an IN
draucht into the grating air-tuic existed Bnt
If tle water flies outward in general spatier,
and forms a circular wave or ridge, the prcsump-
,ion would be- thai a downward aI-s'ream was
at work.
The testimony Of cyc-witncsScs on this point, 50
far. d, conflicting. Most of II Is afforded by un-
skilled Observers some of whom are ionder ol
the picturesque than Of scientific accuracy. And
oven the most conscientious and carefully educated
observer Is liable to be bothered hr the rapldliy
of the changes taking place. and 10 have hls al
,.ntlon distracted by other fcatuIcs of tie spec
taclc instantaneous photographs, however. which
would admit Of deliberate and careful scrutiny,
and which would not onlJ portray several phases
of one spout, but would embrace the history OF
seorc, Of spouts. ought TO aid greatly in cstab-
ush,ny the truth about this important matter.
Tie principles involved in tornado origin and
action are largely applicable 10 broad cyclonIc
storms. A. ,hc present time an attempt is being
made 20 overthrow some OF the ideas believed To
nave been fairly established and regarded as fiu-
Jamcntal. in modern mcDoroiosy. Systematic
observation Of watcrspout, might, on the one
hand. restore confidence in these accepted theories
| or on tie other, greatly promote the revolution
with which VI Faye threatens that science.