The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-12-08

ana, IN part at least, serves to explain the
remarkably mild climate experienced in
such northern ATTITUDES, for England is 800
miles further north than New York, and
vet has a far mlder climate.
Careful observations of humidity have
shown most extraordinary charges At
/ Washington. ID. c.. October 81, 1891 there
was drop in the humidity of 80 per cent
in 400 feet, and in 1887, in Philadelphia,
of 10 per cent in 1000 feet In Stockholm,
Sweden. Il year ago, there was found drop
/ of 96 per cent in 1900 feet. These results
are very remarkable and show changes in a
/ the present Here seems to be most fruit
full field for study, and possibly one that
will ultimately yield to us the cause of
rain. How do these layers of dampness
change as rain comes on? How is it pos
sihle for moisture to collect in enormous
horizontal LAYERS and with such marked
changes in so short distances? These and
other similar questions might be put by
the score, and the balloon can answer
them.
The most memorable voyage on record is
that of Prof. Wise, who sailed from st.
Louis, Mo-, on July l, 1850 and landed in
Henderson, \. Y, nineteen hours later.
This rapid travel of II miles per hour was
remarkable, and showed continuity and
velocity of air currents little thought of up
to the present. Prof Wise also added a
great deal to our knowledge of thunder
storms. He rarely found this cloud above
5000 feet, and he proves that there is no
rotation in horizontal plane in this cloud.
If this is substantiated, it will prove one of
the most valuable facts given to us by bal
looms up to the present.
But it is in the line of observations of
atmospheric electricity that Prof Wise has
given us some valuable records. In one voy-
age as he passed above thunder-cloud he
noted the following facts: Several times
the surface of the lower stratum swellcd up
suddenly like boiling cadron, and this
swelling was Immediately followed by the
cations Twice it swelled up. like an i'm
mense pyramid, quickly followed by an
evolution of promiscuouS flashes, and then
quickly disappeared again, as though it
had dissolved" In still another similar
voyage above thunder-cloud he says
''The watery mass is brilliantly illumin-
ated by the sunlight. And then it hcaves
and rolls about like the boisterous ocean.
Ever and anon the vapor is suddenly pro
iccted upward above the general cloud
level like great volcanic cone, followed by
a discharge of electricity, dancing across it
like diamonds upon snow-bank. This as
suddenly melts it down again. and then
/ the ear a sound resembling cataract. The
report of these electric discharges, as heard
above the cloud, is not that of deep
Sonorous, rumbling sound, but of a snarl-
ing crash like the report OF rifle" In Il
thrilling account of his experiences in the
center of thunderstorm, Prof. Wise
speaks as follows: II was in hope, when
being hurled rapidly upward, that should
escape from the top of the cloud; but, as in
the former eXpections of an opposite release
from this terrible place, disappointment
was again my lot, and the congenal sun
shine, invariably above, which had already
been anticipated by its faint glimmer
through the top of the cloud, soon vanished
with Il violent downward surge of the bal
loon, as it appeared to me, of some hun
bred feet. The balloon subsidized on V to
| be hurled up again, when, having attained
its maximum, it would again sink down
with a swinging and fearful velocity to be
carried up again and let fall. This hap
pened eight or ten times, all the time the
storm raging with undated fury" Again
he says: SIN passing through a thunder
storm he was always first carried through
dense cloud into an open space, with IL
second cloud hanging above him. Currents
of air frequently moved transyersely to the
current below the lower cloud.
He had repeatedly been carried along by
/. this transverse current, and upon coming
down through the cloud he had been caught
by the ascending current and whrled up
again. Between the two clouds there were
constant flashes of lightning from the upper
to the lower. These flashes were not
explosive. The heat lightning, so often
seen, is the electricity of the upper cloud
descending to the lower. The explosive
discharges are generally between the lower
cloud and the earth. Between two clouds
hail is formed A scorce of such quotat-
ions might be given, but | think enough
has been said to show the intensely interest
ing character of the exploration of the cloud
region. If such results as these can be OBJ
tanned with no instruments what may we
not hope for with accurate instruments and
observations by trained men?
| think that the paucity of reliable re-
cords must be painfully evident to every
one, and the great need for a regular cam
paign to determine Natures secrets in her
own great laboratory. Some may say that
mountain SUBMITS ought to give us facts