The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-24

If they have their inception on the hot
and high plains Of Arizona and New
Mexico, can always be expected to give
| abundant rainfall when they reach the
they pass over the middle Atlantic
states. All these can be studied dur
Ing their inception at an average alti-
tude Of 5000 feet above sea level and
under conditions of extreme aridity;
they can be viewed later as they come
down nearly to sea level in the Missis-
slppi valley and reach a more humid
atmosphere 1000 miles from the place
OF their birth; and finally, they are seen
as they reach the extremely humid air
of the Atlantic ocean, 1900 miles fur
Their east.
The great winter cyclones which
originate south of the japanese islands
and cross the Pacific ocean come I'M
der our vision as they successfully sur
mount the formidable Rocky mountain
barriers with but little dimunition Of
energy, sweep across our continent with
Increasing force and heavy precipita-
ton, and within three days pass be-
yond our meteorological horizon at the
Atlantic seaboard only to be heard from
three days later as gorean ravagers Of
Northern Europe.
The great anti-cyclones, or high-pres-
sure eddies. which constitute the
territory from the Canadian north
west provinces and are studied under
rapidly changing conditions during
5000 miles Of their course. The high
pressure eddy, with all the conventional
principles of the cyclone reversed, may
be said not to depend upon the land of
Its birth for the cold it brings, for
strong vertical and anti-cyclonic mo-
ton at the center is continually draw
Ing down the cold air from above. In
the Geld wave 1t must be conceded that
the loss OF heat by radiation to a cloud
less sky is much greater than that
gained by compression, or else it must
be assumed that the atmosphere pos
sesses such intense cold at the eleva-
ton from which the air is drawn that
notwithstanding the heat gained by
compression in it's descent, it is still far
below the normal temperature at the
surface of the earth
The West Indian hurricanes, always
at sea level and in humid air, which
are the most violent of all American
storms, intrude themselves into the do
main of the United States weather map
at the bend of their parabolic course. at
about latitude 30. They have for years
furnished a fruitful theme for the
thoughts of the investigator
For twenty-seven years the forecasters of
the weather bureau have studied the incep-
CioLi, oeFelopueHI ana progression or these
dlnerent classes Of atmospheric disturbances.
From knowledge personally gained by many
years service as an official forecaster l
do not hesitate to express the opinion that
we long since reached the highest degree
OF accuracy in the making of forecasts pas-
sble to be attained with surface reading
1t Is patent that we are extremely ignorant
of the mechanics Of the storm of the opera
lions Of those vast yet subtle forces in free
air which give inception to the disturbance
and which supply the energy necessary to
continue the same.
Having long realized this. 1 determined at
once, on coming to the control of the United
states weather bureau, to systematically at
tack the problem of upper-air exploration,
with the hope ultimately of being able to con-
struct daily synoptic weather chart from
simultaneous readings taken in free air at
an altitude of not less than one mile above
the earth, 1t appeared to me that previous
plans for investigating the upper air by
means Of free and uncomfortable balloons by
observers in balloons, or by Independent kite
stations were of little value in getting the
information absolutely necessary to improve
our methods for forecasting Simultaneous
observations at uniformly high level from
many kite stations was the plan l inaugural
ed for the prosecution of this important in
Vestgatlon. Prof. Marvin was assigned to
the difficult task of devsing appliances and
making instruments, and 1 am pleased to say
that we have improved on kite flying to such
an extent that apparatus is now easily sent
up to a height of one mile in only a moder-
ate nd. We have made an sutom tie instru-
ment that. while weighing less than two
humidity and wind velocity. Before next
spring we expect to have net less than TWEEN
stations placed between the Rocky mountains
and the Atlantic ocean, taking daily readings
at an elevation of one mile or more
We shall then construct a chart from the
nigh level readings obtained at these twenty
with the surface chart made at the same mo-
ment. Being thus able to map out not only
the vertical gradients of temperature, humi-
dlty, pressure, and wind velocity, but the
horizontal distribution of these forces on two
levels, it is hoped to better understand the
development Of storms and cold waves and
eventually improve the forecasts of their flu
ture course, extent and rate of movement
In exceptional cases we have flown the
KITES to height of nearly two miles. From
daily readings at only one kite station. at
washington city, we have derived information
as to the direction and force of the wind
above the one-mile level, which has greatly
assisted US in establishing the future direc-
ton of storm center when our surface chart
gave but negative indications. 1t will be a
fascinating study to note the progress of cold
waves at this level and to determine If the
changes in temperature do not first begin
above. The readings at Washington indicate
that contending equatorial and polar winds
may be more potent in the formation of
storm eddies than heated and ascending con-
vectional currents.
I am anxious to know the difference in
temperature between the surface and the
upper stratum in the four quadrants of the
cyclone and In the four quadrants of the
anti-cyelone, especially when the storm and
cold wave conditions are intense At an
elevation of five miles but little effect re-
mains of diurnal temperature variation. At
this altitude the atmosphere is free from the
disturbing influence of immediate surface
radiation, and consequently there is but
little change between the temperature of
midday and midnight. The vertical dis
tribution of temperature in the several quad
rants of the cold wave or rain storm areas
may give clue to the future direction of the
storm. When we able to construct iso-
barrie gradients at the one-mile level it may
be discovered that the storm center at that
elevation will not always coincide with the
geographical location of the storm center at
the surface of the earth. The displacement
of this center may possibly give some indica-
ton Of the future direction of the storm.
There are many interesting problems to be
solved by this investigation
William S. Moore
Chief of Weather Bureau Washington. D G.
MOLDING MARBLE.