Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-30
DEW POINT IN NORTH TEXAS.

Not wishing in the least to be hypercrit-
zeal, but simply desiring to get at facts, to
read the truths OF nature aright, | must
confess that l am dissatisfied with the ex-
PLANTATION OF dew formation in The GAZETTE
of Aug 23rd. Please allow me TO state my
| understanding Of the dew point First, by
way Of definition, it is that point on the
thermometer-that degree OF temperature,
at which the moisture present in the atmos-
phere condenses. Second, whether this
point shall be nigh or low depends upon the
quantity OF moisture in i given space, say
so much to the cubic foot of air. If
the atmosphere is highly charged with
| moisture Of . good temperature a slight
decline will cause deposit OF dew, and the
place is said TO have high dew point. II,
on the other hand, the air is scant of mois-
ture it will take a considerable fall of tenn
perature for the dew to form and the locality
is said to have low dew point.
Ii this exp lanation is correct it does not
seem a very hard matter to infer
whether this section of Texas has high or
low dew point. That it is the explanation
given by good authorities and incidentally,
or at least Theoretically, by standard text
books on physical geography, will not be
al ~ accessible work TO consult would be
the American yclopedia-article Dew.
Referring to the last paragraph OF your
article. ''We cannot see that It's high dew
point could have marked influence upon
the climate of region. would stats that
cannot see how it influences tins climate
at all, 1t is simply an indication OF the eli
mate as to its humidity.
Now l must ask for information. Are
you sure that the dew-point at Galveston or
New Orleans is lower than at Fort Worth9
l am very much puzzled if actual expert
ment confirms that statement. Positive re-
liable testimony, as distinguished from
IY,fe al int ha
highly Interesting.
We must recollect that various conditions
influence the amount Of dew formed at a
given place, but to discuss these would
make this little paper too long; we will
limit our consideration to the dew point for
the present.
In our high school laboratory we have
very simple apparatus for finding the dew
point at any desired time and place. 1t
consists merely of a thermometer (ours is
steIn-any ordinary thermometer will do
and tall, thin, highly polished Zinc-plated
cup. Fill the cup almost full Of water; put
in the Thermometer. Slowly stir in crushed
ice, being careful to let no moisture touch
the outside Of the vessel. The instant a
film obscures the bright surface of the cup
take the reading. Perhaps it may be of
slight interest for me to give the figures as
! read them this morning, August 49, at
II so. 1t was an apparently dry. well ven
tllated room with the apparatus about eight
feet above the ground Temperature Of
air. SO deg. fahrenheit; water just from
tank, ~ deg. dew point So deg.
a great many interesting facts can be
gathered from taking various readings of
the thermometer, say at the surface of the
ground ten feet above, and so on; and it is
partly with the hope that some may be in
duced to observe more and think about the
phenomena continually taking place before
our eyes that these few thoughts have been
here expressed. Many others are sus-
gested by your article referred to, for me-
teorology is highly practical and conse-
quently very interesting, I promise the
agricultural department of THE GAZETTE
careful reading and conscientious discus
sion by certain class of young people this
fall and winter, and we will always be
thankful for every truth we CLEAN thereby.
Mrs. c. WALDEN.
Fort Worth, Tex.
Our well-informed correspondent asks
US a direct question with reference to the
comparative height of the dew points in
Fort Worth and Galveston or New Or
leans. All we can do in the premises is to
solicit at her hands careful re-reading of
our article to which she refers. We are
sure that ordinarily the atmosphere rolls
up from the gulf at these points, through
the dew season, and that, as a consequence,
it is more humid and hence Of lower tenn
perature than it is at Fort Worth. Please
see our argument Of last week.