Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-04-16
OUR CHANGING CLIMATE.
WHAT CAUSES 1T AND HOW NEW
CHANGES MAY COME.

irrigation of Great Areas the Cafcf
Factor of Diference-If New Mexico.
Arizona, md Texas nre Irrigated We
May Have Our Old Seasons.
Weather Observer Dunn. of the New
York Weather Station. has something to
say on the causes of the change of eli
mate in this country.
There seems but little doubt, -" he says
shat our climate is undergoing a change.
For 10 years the seasons have blended 50
gradually that no definite line has marked
the outgoing of one or the incoming of
the other. The winters, if we may call
them such, have been mild and snowless,
save with rare exceptions; while our
summers, that formerly sent JOY to our
seaside and country resorts, now stand
MS history and leave sad remembrance
of what might have been" had not tho
seasons changed.
There are strong adherents of the claim
that the Gulf Stream pressing nearer to
our shores has caused the difference in
our climate. This theory can, in no
sense, apply to the change in our climate
for the reason that as yet we have no
tangible proof that the Gulf Stream has
changed its course, and if it has, it could
not, in any sense, affect the climate of
this country. Its waters may literally
wash our shores, and yet the change
would not be perceptible even in the
coast States. For all storms and atmos-
pheric phenomena pass from west to east.
And the prevailing direction Of wind be-
ing off Shore the winds would neces-
6arly carry any change that might &C.
cur into the ocean.
Again, the rotation of the earth is a
most important factor to prevent weather
conditions travelling to the westward.
These facts alone are sufficient to dispel
the Gulf Stream.
Furthermore, the change in climate has
not been of local nature, but has been az
great or greater in the central valleys and
extreme West as in this vicinity. Even
the Southern States have, and are still
undergoing considerable change They
no longer have their mild winters, as in
former years. High pressure areas have
followed each other in rapid succession
into that vicinity, and caused the tenn
porature to remain below freezing point
Tor periods equal in duration to some of
the III ne HOrlneily oldleS.
The cause for such change is not easy
to trace, and all theories and deductions
advanced to solve the problem can only
be verified by long series of observa-
tons covering a number of years. 1t is
necessary to start from the birthplace of
storms that cross our country. These
storms, or the majority of them, develop
in the extreme Northwest, beyond the
limits of our country, or pass from the
North Pacific Ocean. Others, again, de-
velop in the extreme Southwest or como
i'll from the South Pacific. Very few
cross directly over the central mountain
districts. The storms that move across
the mountain range, by the time they
reach the eastern side, are almost entirely
without precipitation. All the moisture
they start with (Which must be consider
able to give them energy enough to cross
the mountains at alb has been deposited
on the west side, in consequence of the
warm moist air meeting with the colder
upper currents. For the winds are forced
to much greater height than would
otherwise be the case. Therefore, by the
time they reach the east side of the
mountain they are dry. This accounts
for the arid lands of the West. In nine
out of every ten storms find the move
ment of the storm centers toward the
central plains on the east slope Of the
Rocky Mountains, whether they come
from the Northwest or Southwest. They
finger in that neighborhood, apparently
with but little energy at first. Finally
they develop and take northeasterly
course across the country.
Storms, like current of electricity,
:ollow course Of the least atmospheric
resistance. Of this we are fully aware.
Then why should most OF the disturb
ances move into and over country
where the air is dry, and the greatest
possible resistance is encountered, instead
of moving off in a natural path? Because
the land that was once an arid desert is
20 day skillfully manipulated in a scien-
tific way, so that 4, 300,0 900 acres of land
in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, and
Utah are under state of cultivation by
artificial means. Irrigation has done for
the central plains what nature has failed
to do. 1t is this spreading of water over
such a vast territory-this putting Of an
oasis in the desert-that has been the at
traction to draw and assist in the devel-
opment of storms in that vicinity. Thus
they have been brought from southerly
into more northerly course, leaving the
great lakes the next nourishing place in
natural course. Thus the storm centres
that in former years passed eastward
over the Central and Southern States and
then up the Atlantic. find much easier
course over the lakes and down the st.
Lawrence Valley. The high pressure
areas then sweep to the south behind the
storm, causing "northers" in Texas and
colder weather during the winter months
in all the Southern States. What re-
mains of such cold waves after the CEN
tiers Of high pressure get to position
where we can get that portion of the
wave which is due us is hardly percepti
BILE. l cite, for instance, the year 1899,
where 30 storms crossed the country, %
of which passed to the north of this city
and but one to the south. This of itself
accounts for the warm winter of that
year.
Now, we ask, is this state of affairs to
be permanent? ] am inclined to believe
that if the theory advanced is correct and
is really the cause of the change-and it
reems very plausible--then the change
has come to stay, so long as New Mexico,
Arizona, and Texas are left without irri-
cation. Just so soon as these States are
;rriOota1 tho ctorr,c that coOoo in or do.