Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-25
THE wHIRL OF THE TORNADO.

Mr.. Haxen Makes Some Interesting
Statements MT the Chicago Congress.
Mr.. Hazen Of the United States weather
bureau read a paper at the worlds congress
OF meteorology at Chicago yesterday on
Thunder Storm and Tornado Facts" In
which he said: "A careful compilation Of
thunderstorm observations, begun by the
smithsonian Institution In 1919 and contin-
ued by the weather service since 1871, has
shown that they have a period coincident
with that Of the sun spots. This is the more
remarkable because the relation determined
In Europe has been exactly opposite that.
Thunder storms have been classed as infant
tornadoes. and 1t is certain that with a few
doubtful exceptions, the facts regarding one
are directly applicable to the other. These
rant OF general storm and 400 to 500 miles
from its center. They have a velocity double
that OF the general storm. They occur on
after the hottest part of the day. Thunder
storms often begin at a center and spread
out In fan shape. Individual storms move
along parallel lines and clear sky may be
in the center.
In connection with these most violent and
destructive outbursts are the constant and
profuse discharges of lightning which I'm
Balls of fire or globular lightning have also
been noted often. They are very narrow,
seldom over 800 feet, and always move from
u
loud and Understandable roar which precedes
them, and this may be heard fifteen minutes
before the tornado strikes. and will gener-
ally give sufficient warning. This roar is
probably due to a constant thunder and has
been heard in a modified way in connection
and ne
these paths. beginning after the hottest part
Of the day. Each tornado has a path a lit
ton may be kept up till after sunset, or five
or six hours after the hottest part of the
day
the observation repeatedly made that the
first appearance Is of two Clouds one COM
ing from the northwest and the other from
the southwest. This appearance has been
greatly misinterpreted at times. as 1t has
been thought that the north cloud, which is
cold, has.inet the warm south cloud. This
mas given rise to enormous contrasts OF
temperature, and the terrible conflict be-
tween these has developed or resulted in the
t%o Clouds of derent 'has tns eeud
not produce an unstable equilibrium at all |;
moreover the appearance OF these clouds all
along the line show that they are engaged
In a continuous action, and do not form a
single union and thereafter move on as a
storm. The distribution Of debris also shows
material, trees, &c. are deposited in paral-
lei lines, and look as though dropped by a
mighty river flowing over the ground. On
the south side there Is an inclination inward
and forward along the line Of the storm. On
the north side there is a similar action but
OItenumeS the trees ana 0eDf1S are 0e-
posted in lines pointing to the direction
from which the storm has come showing
that in such cases the north cloud acted
first
1.-The most interesting point which now
has come to the front is regarding the &C.
currence Of an enormous whirl, with d.
ameter equal to the width of the greatest
destruction. 1t has been thought impossible
to account for the terrible destruction on
any other theory. 1t Is conceded at once
that the onward progress OF the tornado at
forty fifty miles per hour could not do
serious damage, but If the cloud rotates at
800 or 400 miles per hour all the destruction
could be easily explained. Unfortunately
this superstition. when properly examined,
shows its own weakness. II a funnel whir-
ing at 300 miles per hour should move at
the rate of 40 miles per hour, then on the
would be go miles an hour. and in front it
would be 800 miles per hour. No such ac-
ton as this has ever been noted 1t is safe
to say that there is no such uniformity in
the destruction disposition Of debris. This
point regarding the whrl of the tornado Is
the one over which there Is the greatest
controversy at the present day, and de-
mands the most careful investigation,
pecially in the line of a study of the debris
The strongest proof of the whirl has been
the appearance Of the cloud In midair. but a
little thought shows that this appearance is
most ulusOry, and cannot be accepted in the
light Of the almost universal records of the
distribution of debris. The whole subject is
of the highest interest, and 1t Is very fortu-
nate that today there are many well-edu-
Gated men, professors In colleges and Others
who are devoting careful attention to Its
study"