The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-06-14

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TIcfure-map showing storm ar WIN 81
louis in the southeast quadrant where
toraacoes invariably form. The current of
ar indica ted as moving northward from
'he south IS warm, comparatively light, and
close 10 IHe eartl's surface Its northward
movement IS due 10 a partial vacuum in the
storm area IS shown by light barometric
pressure. The current from the north il
cold heavy ana higher than the warm
Houtherly one. TOrnsdoes are developed
buli5. The rotary velocity OF tornaSoes
Is extremely high, sometimes reaching
the almost uuthinkable rate of 900 miles
an hour. At such velocity everything
IN front Of the vortex must give way,
and only a mountain chain could with
stand its force. Amy conceivable man
made wall of steel and stone would be
only as a windrsw of feathers in the
path OF a genuine western twister, once
1t had fairly got under way.
Possibly such a structure as you
mention might be used as shield to de-
feet the currents upward and cause the
tornado to form at a safe distance above
our heads. But such fence would
have 10 be several hundred feet high and
its cost would be enormous. 1t would
need 10 be erected TO the south and
southeast of the town whose protection.
was sought, though if il were intended
10 sop tornado already formed, the
wall should be built 70 the westward.
The movement of tornadoes is always
from the west but the air currents,
whose collision causes toruadoes. move
from the north and from the south"
To make his meaning clear Mr. Dunn
drew a diagram, which Is here repro
duced. and explained it about as fol-
lows:
There are few simple physical
laws that have to do with heat, specific
gravity and their effect upon fluids
that should be understood by any who
are thinking hard upon a method OF
controlling Jornadoes, said Mr.. Dunn.
'These laws work quite rs well and as
invariably IN The open air as in the
laboratory. If we were to put some oil
in q bottle and then put in large guam
tity of some heavier liquid on top OF the
oil she latter would make its way
through the other liquid and exchange
places with II. The ease with which
this would be accomplished would de-
pend upon the relative densities OF the
two liquids. The greater the differ
rnce the greater the disturbance would
be- The lighter liquid could not ascend
in q straight line. ana the friction be-
tween the particles would give whirl-
ing motion to the ascending bubbles.
Now, this is precisely what happens
when hot, and consequently light.
layer Of air finds itself underneath 3
cold and heavier one. The work of the
light layer getting above. or mixing
with. the heavier one produces the
whirEnE storm which we call a tornado.
- --zt re=C-z-:e to this kind OF
storm IS the formation 81 4 storm cen =
or area in the atmosphere where. Id
causes attributed 10 solar heat, the al.
is rariIied or thinnes. as demonstrated
by low pressure on the barometer,
making a partial vacuum or hole. iatl
which more air must pour in order 70
MI II up. This condition. bv the way,
Is just as essential 70 the gentlest sum
mer zephyr as the worst tornado. bu.
the result IS serious only when there i
big hole TO I'll and a consequent in.
sush OF great quantities OF heavy, cold
air
.. On the GorSh American .,ortinc-.:.