The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-28
A Y In THE OCEAN
GULF STREAM OF THE ATLANTIC A
WONDERFUL BODY OF WATER
It's influence on Verdure and Climate
Variable I'm Velocity and Direc-
~tion-Latest Researches.

Providence Journal.
The greatest and most wonderful OF
all the great bodies OF water on the sur
face of the earth-the gulf stream-has
been the subject OF more extensive and
exhaustive study and research by our
government than that OF any other
country. For years the coast survey
steamer Blake has from time to time
anchored In the various portions Of the
gulf stream, and the results OF her re-
searches cannot help being Of great in
terest to the vast majority of thinking
people, and Of inestimable benefit TO all
persons interested in navigation. whether
in the transatlantic trade or the coast
wise trade.
The great river OF the Atlantic, known
as the gulf stream, from the gulf or
Mexico to the Azores, is 5000 miles in
length and its greatest breadth 12o. AT
first its speed is four miles an hour.
but this gradually declines as it becomes
more diffuse. In the straits of Florida
it's temperature is ~eighty-three degrees.
or nine degrees above the surrounding
waters, and off Newfoundland in winter
II Is twenty-five OF InlTl QtSIccS
er than the surrounding seas. thus
causing the dense fog OF these regions.
1t is a great dispenser of heat and
moisture in it's course. To its influence
are owing the verdure of the British
islands and the mildness OF the climate
of western Europe compared with coun-
tries elsewhere of corresponding lat-
tude.
1t is of a deep indigo blue so-long as
its current is deep and narrow, said TO
be caused by it's holding in suspension
the finest particles of the river silt
brought down by the Mississippi. The
line Of demarkation between the gulf
stream and the adjacent waters is SO
marked that a vessel may be seen float
ing one-half in the gulf stream and the
other half in the common waters of the
seas, and two buckets let down, one at
the bow and the other at the stern will
draw up water different in temperature
by no less than thirty degrees.
The late Lieut.. G. NJ. Bache discovered
a band of water so much colder than
the rest that he called it the cold
WALL" the cold water appearing to con-
fine the hot water as by a wall on the
inshore side. Its distance from Sandy
Hook is from 230 to ESQ miles; its dis
JdHCe lTOHl Sdpe May is D6lWGta lok anu
lis miles.
Inside of the "cold wall" there is a
warm band. and then the cold water OF
the shore. The axis Of the stream takes
in general the curve of the coast below
rather than above the water, being
turned to the eastward by the shoals
off the southern coast of New England.
The warm water of the gulf stream
rests on a cold current flowing towards
Cape Florida, the coolest water keeping
--~- H. -
face if not at ii. By observations at
several points along the coast in 400
fathoms, between Sandy Hook and Cape
Florida, the surface temperature ex-
ceeding eighty degrees, the thermometer
indicated forty-six and a half to fifty
five degrees; off Hatteras, in 1000
fathoms, forty degrees. The warm
water of the gulf stream is Of very
different depths at different points of
its course and in different parts Of any
one of the sections across il.
A SUPERFICIAL CURRENT.
Investigation proves c~onclusively that
the gulf stream is comparatively a SUI
perficial current on the surface of an
ocean of cold water. Every navigator
of it's waters knows that at times il is
stronger than at others, and that under
the same apparent conditions of wind
and weather the stream is variable In
velocity and direction. The greater reg
ular variations Lieutenant Commander
Pillsbury found are chiefly due to
changes in the position of the moon-a
daily variation governed by its time OF
transit, and a monthly variation follow
ing the changes in d~eclination. Both Of
these can be predicted with considerable
precision. The unusual variations come
from the force and direction of the wind
and the differences in the height OF the
barometer within and without the gulf
of Mexico.
The cause of the gulf stream and OF
most ocean currents is directly or indi-
rectly due to the wind. Every wind pro-
duces a slight movement of the water
over which it blows by its friction on
the particles Of surface water. As the
upper particles acquire a movement the
same motion Is transmitted to the lower
particles, thus forming q current.
With the trades predominating az
they do from the eastward and persist
emily blowing over the same area the
current set up extends to seventy or
eighty fathoms deep, which maintains
its average velocity in spite OF the daily
variations in its producing cause.
Any current upon meeting an obstruc-
ton must escape in some direction. The
current from the southeast trades
reaches the South American coast in
the vicinity of Cape st. Rogen. and IL
thereupon divides into branches, one
flowing to the southwark along the
coast of Brazil and the other toward
the West Indies. The current from the
northeast trades, flowing I'm the general
direction of the wind, meets the obstruc-
ton of the coast of South America and
OF the Windward stands. The COM
bined currents have a partial relief and
escape through the passage Of the Wind
ward islands. while the remainder
passes along the western side of the
West Indian islands toward the coast
of the United States. The current en-
tering the Caribbean sea Is driven to
the westward until IL meets the obstruc-
ton Of the coast of Honduras.
There is another movement OF the
water which is more effective I'm produce
ing a current along shore, and which
probably contributes as much water to
form the gulf stream as the surface
current due TO the friction OF the wind.
This is the water driven TO leeward by
the break of the waves. Ii is from this
cause that violent shore currents are
set up along the coast OF Cape Cod,
New Jersey and North Carolina In
northwest gales. The waves are thrown
toward the shore. from which the es-
cape OF the water makes the strong cur
rent that has wrecked many a vessel.
RESULTS or OBSERVATIONS.
The barometer is a fruitful source OF
abnormal variations in current in the
straits OF Florida. but 1t is doubtful IL