Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-01-08
THE THUNDERSTORM
An Explanation of It's Origin and
Development.


A writer -frt~ the St Louis Post Dispatch,
spealxing of the development OF thunder
storms calls them immense Leyden jars In
the sky, and supports his statement by ex-
nlaining their origin. Let us, he says, nrst
observe an average summer thunderstorm
OS ~ is develoning over us. The atmosphere
10 snltrv and oppressive. The heat OF the
snn seems more penetrating than usual. II
we look toward the sky we shall be likely 70
note a lack Of its usual transparency
Small inky-looking clouds will be seen hav-
ing an indistinct and ragged outline Inc
clouds will increase in volume. Sman ones
will unite, forming larger bodies, ana tnese
will rapidly grow in density and overcast
the sky. The heavy cloud masses WIN Do
seen to approach nearer the eartn. Occa,
sionally some section of the cloud mass VIII
be illuminated by lightning, and after an in
.erval of twenty or thirty seconds faint
rumbling thunder will become audible. AS
the storm develops and draws nearer the
intervals between the flashes OF hghtning
and reports of thunder will shorten, until,
when the storm is at its height, many nasnes
will be followed almost Immediately py
deafeninp crashes of thunder. By this time
probably heavy rain will be falling, vary
ing at intervals in intensity. The storm Will
continue from one-half to about two or
three hours, when the lightning and thun-
der will diminish and disappear, ana the
rainfall will gradually cease. when we now
venture out we shall encounter cool, re-
freshing breeze, which will at once have an
invigorating effect upon US. The rays OF
the sun breaking here and there through
the clouds and falling upon the rain-drops
on .he grass and trees, will give to the sur
roi,n din 0e the most OlnasinU asO6Ct,
Having briefly described the thunder
storm as we all see It, let us now lnvest-
gate what we have seen. While the thun-
der-storm was developing the air was OPP
pressive and we felt languid and uncomfort-
able This was due to the great amount OF
moisture with which the air was saturated,
together with the high temperature. The
wGrm, vapor-laden atmosphere, expanded
by neat ana rising TO higher altitude, was
replaced by cooler air flowing in under it.
This accounts for the refreshing atmosphere
which we experienced. The great amount
of moisture in the air during the develop
ment of the storm accounts for the lack of
its transparency, and also for the indistinct
outlines of the clouds. AS the uprising air
reached higher altitude and encountered
cooler winds, its moisture was condensed
and we saw it in the form OF clouds, which,
- ~~N~SN~
The most difficult phenomena to explain,
but which are at the same time the most in
teresting. are the lightning and thunder
Nothing definite was known about light
ming until Benjarlin Franklin demonstrated
by means of his wellknown kite expert
ment, that lightning and electricity are
Identical. His experiment is explained in
the following letter written by him on Octo-
ber 10, 1852:
Make small cross of light sticks of ce-
dar, the arms so long as to reach to the four
corners OF large, thin silk handkerchief
when extended. Tie the corners of the
handkerchief to the extremities of the
cross, so you have the bodyof kite, which,
oelng properly accommodated with a tail,
loop ana string, will rise in the air like those
made OF paper but, being made of silk, is
hIVer 10 pear tne wet and wind Of thunder
gust without tearing. To the ton of the mn.
right stick of the cross is to be fixed n very
sharp pointed wire rising a foot or more
ABOVE the wood To the end of the twina-
next the hand, is to be tied silk ribbon'
ana Where The silk and twine join. q kew
may De fastened. This kite is to be raised
wnen a tnunder-gust appears to be coming
on' ana the person who holds the string
must stand within door or window or un,
uer some cover, so that the silk ribbon NAV
@ not oe wet, and care must be taken that the
.Wlhe oOes not touch the frame of the door
VI WINDOW AS soon as the thunder-clouds
eolne , over the kite the pointed wire will
Sli' ula" the electric fire from them. and tba
AIUe' WIN all the twine, will be electrified.
st"',I ~ Ino loose nlaments Of the twine will
o,. oVery way and be attracted bv an
approaching finger, and when the Ts;, ha. 90
wet the kite and twine Won will fnd ,tSs .he
electric tire stream out plentifullv from the
Key on the approach of your knuclxlen
having found that lightning Owl a.
erlcity are the same, we must endeovor
eAplalh IN what manner this afmosnha,.;o
SStecSrlclly S"y Is generated. Many theories
uaVe oeen advanced in explanation ~ th;s
,luoS ,tuoseon ana, while little is positivelv
tho. ~ Vne tneory generally accented IL
49,, ~ sie eevtriclty Is generated by the fr,c-
.ion OF the liquid particles of vanor IN az
an aeathst each other, against the sar.h
anu anu against the air Some have o,o;ss
c,a... c,,aS evaporation is the cause but e~ra,.;
,oa s'.s nave suown that wherever electric,t,,
tbe reoi oa.s oaaVeu Oy evaporation friction was
roI%s r,sn'n19g 7i flashes appear in differert
Dlies is a Ias Ions nghtning, as its name i'm
) the most Irregular line Of light, and
. "e must common form. Ran iiah.I S-iu
: > round bail Of fire. movino nsu.nlng
With With 'oe eye can follow it, and exno%sS TIo~
rt,n ,itsnsas loud report Sheet lightning
'ilus glare OF light, which ill,-aIs 70
Sse ,igs or surface Of cloud. ze.1a@ Gs M,s Sne
'naS 20 caused by the DISCHARGE ~ lsnT
r Ty vvbIoS OF electricity passing thropeb ,A,g ,ge
,omes o., Nu 3oOvunt OF ITS resistance ~
pyns the a!id p.essed at various pojnts ard
on,a,i- .re cu TRENT aside. The zie,lTa,, 80. suu
me nhes lour or five miles IN iea1-,h
ever been aI satistao,oSll OI ball lightning has
Aough il is knoT,n knusnaetGrily explained, al.
hua. hhsre%ely intense discharss e result OF an
Sss. AghtniDg is the reaection !, elsctricity