The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1890-11-05
HOT WINDS.

HOT WINDS.
The discussion concerning hot winds ana
rainfall in western Kansas still continues
in the Topeka Capital. Several excellent
articles from Dodge City pen have ap-
peared lately in the above paper. and it Is
pleasing to know that they have attracted
no little attention and received some COM
ment. In replying to our correspondent
H. r. Hilton offers some good suggestions.
He says:
"Your correspondent 'Zac.' Of Dodge
City, whose letter appears in this morn
ing's CAPITAL. says: The evaporating mois-
ture from these numerous ponds would
make the atmosphere near the surface of
the earth so dense ard heavy that the hot
winds from Texas would be upheld by it,
etc. This is at variance with known laws
of physical science. Moist air is lighter
than dry air-hence moisture evapOrated
at the surface of the earth ascends. and
dry air descends, having greater density
sinks and remains nearest the surface,
hence the hot wind. instead of being above
the moist air, is always underneath and on
the earth's surface.
ssIf hot winds come from Texas. where
do they stay over night, when the wind
ceases to blow and the air is COIL? think
it has been satisfactorily demonstrated that
hot winds are local, and Can exist only SO
long us conditions are favorable, such as
high temperature, clear sky and a hard dry
light colored soil with short, light colsred
vegetation-all combining to radiate the
SUMS heat back into the atmosphere. Hot
winds do not travel far or long over
moist surface or one heavily coated with
vegetation. When the hot winds pass east
over the buffalo grass country these do
much damage but soon exhaust themselves.
Trees and ponds are helpful in checking
hot winds but need to be supplemented by
the greatest agency OF all-large areas
plowed and SUBSIDIZED to depth Of twelve
to sixteen inches, even if the land is al
lowed to go back again to weeds and even
t,mlly to grass. One hundred aud sixty
acres can be so cultivated for less money
than dam Of ten acres in extent can be
successfully constructed and will evapo-
rate ten times more moisture annually.
''But eyapOrating moisture does not al
ways bring rain-it simply puts the at
mosplicre in most favorable condition
when other conditions are right. There
can be no rainfall in any quantity except
when the barometer i, falling. Any con-
ditions favorable to developing low area
storms are favorable to rainfall. Local
evaporation may aid this. although the in
ception of low area storms is a portion of
meteorological science far from being
demonstrated as yet. Our large low area
storms that bring our general rains Origi-
} nate far from Kansas--and generally far to
the north, even, of the United States.
"Your correspondent writes about the
clouds being attracted downward. 1t is
an axiom Of meteOrology that when the
air moves horizontally, no matter If heav-
lily charged with moisture, 10 rain falls,
but there is an upward motion Of the air,
the moisture is carried to higher and COOL
er attitudes where it is precipitated. This
upward motion is evidenced by falling bar
ometer, or in other words 'lessened pres
sure
''Soil loosened by deep blowing or COW
cred with sufficient vegetation, saves mois-
t,lre and reduces heat radiation. Ponds of
water and trees have the same effect, and
all these mitigate the evils of hot winds.
The same agencies save all the rainfall and
return it to the atmosphere by evapor,-
ton. As long as there is moisture in the
soil to evaporate there will be very little
hot winds. Whatever conditions insure
the largest amount of moisture stored in
the soil counteracts most to abate the hot
wind evil.
"For western Kansas it is not so much
a question of increasing the rainfall as of
using to best advantage what now falls.
"Central Kansas did not materially in
crease its rainfall since settlement, but it
saves and ntilizes twice as much now as it
did when first occupied. The building of
ponds and planting largely of trees is to
be commended, but to accomplish any
noticeable good the pillow must be literally
used. for so long as there is hard, compact
soil lightly covered with vegetation there
will be hot windS.''
Weather Report.
The following meteorological summary
for the month of October, is furnished