The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-12-27
U. S. WEATHER BUREAU.
Some Interesting aud Instructive Obse
vations About the Objects it Seeks
and the Work it Does.
BY CLARENCE j. NORTON.
PART w,

In our last paper we showed that
LIST. The heat of the sun is constant
2ud. Evaporation and precipitation
are practically invariable and sub
stantiaIly equal.
3rd. Storm energy is also physica
constant.
The second and third points are
implied in the first, for the solar heat
is the direct cause of evaporation and
of all the physical energy displayed
in the elements Of our planet.
1t has been estimated, by competent
scientific authority, that the sun lifts
annually, in the form of vapor, fifteen
feet of water from the surface of the
tropical oceans. All of this vast
amount of moisture must be returned
to the ocean, in the various processes
Ofnature. In due course of time. The
bulk Oft returns in the form of rain,
aud the heaviest rainfall occurs in
the tropical belts, in the region of
the Gains and at points where the
vapor-laden winds strike the noun
tain ranges.
While rainfall is practically a con-
slant quantity over the entire globe,
yet it is one of the most variable ele-
ments of climate at local points on the
continents. The inequality is wholly
in its distribution and not in the to-
tails over extensive areas. And gen.
orally i'll every case of local deficiency
we may note corresponding excess
in other localities.
In 1881, during July, August and
September, a very severe drouth pre-
vailed in nearly the whole country
east OF the Mississippi river and it
was also severe in Kansas and Arkan-
sas, and yet, during that season, Iowa
and other portions of the northwest
were nearly drowned out by excessive
rains. AT Des Moines the records
chow fall of 1919 inches in June, ). So
inches in July, 80 inches in August
and 40 in September, a total of S1.35
inches in four months or q quarter of
an inch for every day from June 1st
to October lst. There is little cause
for wonder that other portions of the
country went dry when nature was
so lavish Of its water stores in the
northwest. Enough moisture fell III
The northwest 10 make ample mois-
ture for crops in all sections of the
country.
During 1894 the rainfall over the
surface OF the entire continent was
very nearly the average amount and
all sections would have been amply
if the moisture had been well
distributed. The weekly weather
crop map, issued by the United States
Weather Bureau during the crop
season of 1921, showed extended areas
IF excess, corresponding to the extent |
If the deficiency. The cause of this |
was not local, but general
n its operations. There is no ground |
or the belief that the lack of local |
had anything to do with |
he drouth. There was an evident |
,hange in the track of the low pres
'ure waves of atmosphere, in their
weep across the continent, and many |
more drier or descending currents Of
high pressure atmosphere.
1t rains only when it can't help it.
The air never parts with its moisture
kept by force after a sharp conflict.
The amount of water which the air
nay contain i'll the form of vapor de-
'ends always upon its temperature.
1t zero it can contain only one-half
ram of water in a cubic foot. AS it
YARNS up, its capacity to hold mois-
lre increases al a high ratio. AT
hirty-two degrees, or the freezing
oint, it may contain a little more