The record-union., 1896-05-28
BARVICK TALKS ON HEAT.
Sensible" Temperatures, Wet and Dry
Thermometers, Etc.
Some Facts That May Interest People
Who Suffer During Hot
Waves

highest and lowest temperatures yes
terday to have been 90 and 66 degrees,
with gentle to fresh southerly winds
and clear weather prevailing.
The barometrical readings at 3 a. m.
and 5 p. m. yesterday were 29.So ana
$3.50 inches, respectively.
The highest and lowest temperatures
one year ago yesterday were 64 and ol
degrees, with 06 Of an inch of rain;
one year ago to-day "a and so degrees,
with no rain.
1t is said that the reason why there
are no sunstrokes of any note in Cal
ifornia is because during our heated
periods the air is usually dry, and that
the actual temperature felt is that OBJ
tained from the wet-bulb thermome
ter, and called the sensible" tempera-
ture. Two thermometers are placed
within a. few inches of each other. One.
called the "wet-bulb," has a covering
of thin muslin tied around the bulb of
that instrument, and at observation
time this muslin is wet by means of a
vial or bottle with large mouth. This
bottle is placed under the wet thermom-
eter and brought up over the bulb so as
to completely submerge the cloth
wrapped around the thermometer
bulb
After thoroughly soaking the muslin,
the bottle is removed and the mercury
in this particular thermometer rapidly
recedes toward the bulb, and the diff
ference between that reading and the
reading of the dry" thermometer gives
the figures by which the dew point, va
por, pressure and relative humidity Of
the air is obtained. The temperature of
the wet bulb is called the sensible tenn
perature or the actual temperature
| from which we suffer.
For instance, on Tuesday, the 18th,
when, at p. M, the temperature by
the dry thermometer was 30 degrees, at
| the same time the temperature Of the
wet bulb stood at only 66 degrees, a
difference of "A degrees; while on
Wednesday at p. m. the temperature
of the dry thermometer was 81, and
! that Of the wet was 73. Therefore, we
find, according to the figures, that yes
terday, with a maximum dry tempera-
ture of 92, gave higher wet-bulb tenn
perature than did the day previous,
when the maximum or highest tempera-
ture was SO, standing thus: On the
26th at p. m, dry thermometer 80,
wet thermometer 66, and wind north
erly. On the 9th at 5 p. M, dry ther-
mometer 81, wet thermometer 73, and
wind southerly.
| Now, these comparisons show that a
greater amount of moisture was in the
air yesterday than the day before, in
consequence Of which the feeling was
one of greater oppressiveness, with a
maximum temperature Of 81, than was
the previous day, when the air was
much dryer, but the maximum ther-
mometer was then up to SO degrees.
This excessive moisture, which is in
the air in greater amounts along the
coast during these hot spells, is why the
people there suffer more than the inte-
rior people, who have much higher
temperature to contend with.
The usual difference at Sacramento
| in the wet and dry thermometers, at 3
o'clock in the morning, with a stiff
southerly breeze, range from one to
| two degrees, but with a stiff northerly
| breeze the range would be increased
| from four to six and eight, and some
times ten degrees. During the first
| period the air would be heavily charged
with moisture, and the grass, house.
| tops, etc, would be drenched in heavy
and copious dews; but in the latter pc
riod there would be no dew, and the
| tin roofs would be perfectly dry.
In the records of the Weather Bu-
reau we find that Fresno and Red Bluff
have a very much higher maximum
temperature than does Sacramento, but
as the air Is dryer at both places than
here their sensible or wet-bulb tenn
perature is lower than ours, in conse-
quence of which morning dews are sell
dom noted at those places during June,
July and August, while here they are
| lnlIifa frenuenf