The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-30
The Ocean and
The Weather.

Not the least remarkable and impor-
tant OF the researches that are now be-
Ing conducted by scientific men the
world over are those OF Professor Otto
fettersson. in association with the Ia
oors OF Swedish. Norwegian. German.
Danisn and British oceanoCraphers. on
tne relation existing between the sur
iace temperature of the sea and atnos-
pneFic disturbances This IS shown TO
oe most intimate. as even a compara-
tNeiy Insignificant change OF tempera-
.ufe IN the surface waters. whether in
tne upward or in the downward scale.
anects the everything air columns in .
most marked manner-to the extent
indeed. or producing cyclonIc rnove-
rnents- From large number OF ohsar.
Valons made in particular cases and
from the still more important long p.-
riod averages OF data obtained at Dam
Ism, Norwegian. Swedish and British
coast stations. II is established almost
SOhciusiVeiy that where warm oceanic
water has from any cause been brought
INTO tne North sea OF the Baltic in spe-
ciaiiy large quantities in autumn. the
weather OF the following winter has
oeeh marked by an unusually large
number OF cyclones and accompanying
mild weather.
H. on the contrary there Is a surplus
aSe OF coid fresh water. brought down
oy the streams OF the land and distrsh-
uted over the sea surface. then a hard.
cold winter characteristic OF anticy.
cionic conditions follows. with a dis
placement westward OF ;he true cyclon-
lc movement. The warm winter OF 1894
was preceded and accompanied by the
presence OF vast quantities OF warm
oceanic water in the North sea. During
the intensely cold weather OF the fol-
lowing year ClS95). on the other hand.
the southern part OF the North sea was
entirely filled with fresh cold waters.
chiehy derived from the land
The Importance of these observations
cannot be overstated. and while much
yet remains to be accomplished before
extensive practical use can be made ot
them. or perhaps even a hypothesis eS-
tablished or proved. there is reason to
believe, with Mrs. Dickson. who has re-
viewed the evidence. that before long a
limited number of observations. Judi
ciously selected as 10 time and place.
will enable US 10 forecast with conf
dence. not the weather for n day or "A
leW uANS, but tne general character OF
a season. whether the winter is to be
mild or severe. and possibly also wheth-
er the summer is to be wet or warm.
Arrangements are now being completed
for making a most extensive series OF
observations in different parts OF the
north Atlantic during 1895 AS evidence
Of the interest that is being taken in
these researches. and OF the importance
that Is attached 10 them. IL might be
stated that in period OF 10 months of
the years 1855 upward OF 1.eo0 sam
pies Of surface water most of the prod
uct brought together gratuitously by
captains and other officers OF vessels IN
terested in the work. had been trans
mitted to Professor Peterson for ex-
animation and analysts. The science OF
oceanography seems likely to enter upon
new field OF usefulness. and IL is with
good reason that scientists are loudly
advocstins IN tts behalf the study of the
entire oceanic surface. but especially
that part OF IL which in its varying con-
ditions is as yet least known 90 US and
which lies in the arctic and antarctic