The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-03-30
WORK OF THE WEATHER BUREAU.
Interesting Points Concerning Meth
OdS Pursued in Disseminating
Weather Information.
U. S. Department OF Agriculture,
Weather RureHu

..
Weather Bureau,
Charleston. $. c., March "a, 1892.
To the editor of the Press and Banner:
SIR-That the citizens OF Charleston and VI
cinity may more fully understand the meth
DDS and aims of the Local Weather Bureau, AS
administered by The department OF agricul-
ture, desire to give brief outline OF the du-
ties performed at this Office for the benefit OF
the public.
Since the transfer Of the meteorological d.
vision of the signal service To the department.
Of agriculture. more liberal policy has been
pursued in the limit of forecaSting tempera-
lure and weather. resulting in numerous I'M
provements which have been highly COM
mended by those interested In various
branches OF the work, and which. 1t Is be-
lieved, will still result In far greater benefit
TO this community.
Realizing that the work performed in this
branch OF the service Is Of the first import
not only for the Improvement OF the weather
forecasts but their wider distribution, purti-
cuIarly In the agricultural districts.
by the Weather of Bureau are five in number.
A ~ white flag to indicate fair weather; (2l
blue flag for rain or snow: a (3) white and
blue flag, colors arranged horizontally, white
above and blue below, to indicate local rains {;
napt which, II hoisted above either OF the
foregoing symbols, indicates higher tempera-
ture. and If below, lower temperature; and,
lastly, The (5) white flag, with black square in
cen ter. 10 indicate cold waves
Daily cotton region reports, consisting OF
maximum and minimum temperatures aud
rainfall. made by special observers located 8! at
Georges and st. Matthew'S nj 600 p.m., from
April l5 to November 80, each year, are iele-
graphed to this office where they are tabu-
lated and means telegraphed to other cotton
region centers and 10 all cotton exchanges.
Cotton region bulletins are postethdaiIy, at
the rooms OF the exchanges and other places
In this city, during the period OF observa-
tlons.
The river service established at Camden,
Cheraw. Etfinhnm, Mt. Holl. N. c.. Nichols.
Tillers Ferry, and Wateree, ). c., for the bene-
tiL of rice planters and stock raisers, Is main
tained throughout the year. Observations
are made daily ate a. m, 10 meridian time,
consisting of the measurement of rainfall, d.
rection Of wind, state Of weather, and height
OF water. the zero of the river gauges being
usually located at the extreme low water
marks. During the flood season, and when
occasion warrants, special bulletins are Is
sued, giving the probable limits Of high wa
ter a places mentioned. 1t Is Intended to H.
crease the number OF river stations III the
Charleston center at an early date.
Masters OF vessels will, at all times, obtain
the very latest Information concerning wind
directions, wind-forces and storm-movemtnts
along the Atlantic coast They are, also,
most cordially invited TO compare their ship
barometers (both aneroid or mercural,)
with the Weather Bureau standard.
Those wishing TO learn uf the temperature,
precipitation, humidity, or other clima tic con-
iiitlons Of any section can obtain the data by
applying to this Office. Invaids contcmpat-
ing journeys in the interest OF health, and
who desire to learn, with reference 10 a parti-
cular place, whether the air Is colder, warm
er, dryer or more humid, than their place OF
abode can, also, communicate In like man
liner.
The information contained In the official
records at this office will be cheerfully placed
at the disposal of any one Wishing 10 consult
them In reference TO agriculture, business or
science.
Farmers can obtain Information relating to
crop conditions throughout the country {;
dates on which the last irost in spring; or the
first frost IN autumn, has occurred in the
past, and as also most likely To occur In the
future; the frequency and intensity OF rain
fall, etc. In case the data are not at hand,
they will be secured through the proper off,
cial channels.
In this vicinity, the display of the cold wave
signal does not always indicate freezing tenn
peratures; The flag Is hoisted for q decline of
| 10 degrees or more TO temperature OF 40 de-
grees or less. In the spring and autum, the
| tiag Is also used as u frost symbol. Since
plants throw off much more heat than other
objects, IL frequently happens that the tenn
perntureS are 70 to l6o lower than the readings
Of thermometers suspended but few feet
above them, and that ice-spiculae. or frost,
will form upon them. such conditions may
occur with an air temperature Of 4So or less,
agcntle wind, Il low dew point tor tempera-
| lure at which dew Will form y anu u clOudleSS
sky.
The weather mapS-which, until compa-
ratirely recent date, have only been Issued al
WaShingl OD,-are now issued at many sta
tonS OF the Weather Bureau, The Charleston
station Included, and are considered most
| important feature OF the service, as their use
iulness Is being appreciated by all ever-wid-
ening circle. They not only con tai n the fore.
| casts, but also the data on which they are
based {; SO that they may be studied and per-
sonal conclusions drawn by every one en-
gagged In any profession or business affected
by the weather; aud this includes nearly all
| classes OF business.
AS the department is now endeGvoring to
place these maps where they can be used by
farmers, the following explanations may not
be out OF place:
Cold waves, weather and temperature
changes the probability of thunder storm or
other severe local storms are eusily located
by giving the daily weather maps moments
study. The several laws ofstorms will grad
ually unveil themselves 10 the IN md OF the
student OF the map, and the apparently unin.
| ielligibe mass of lines and figures Of q day
becomes the guide for business transactions
orany character. That severe local storms
may occur in the southeast quadrant OF u
low pressure urea; that the winds Will back
| from southwes To northwest II a low pressure
area moves south OF a given place, or shifts
| from northeast to southwest as the storm
moves north OF place that the nperature
has passed; that storms generally move In
the direction OF the creates rain TALL Or snow
| fall or where the air is most humid, are all
facts evolved by study OF the maps.
The observer is deSirous OF extending the
usefulness OF the Local Weather Bureau TO
the citizens Of Charleston and, vicinity, for
whose benefit 1t has been established.
Respectfully, l.. N. JssupOfsky,
Observer. Weather Bureau.