The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-09
new APPLICATION Of KITES
TO PURPOSES Of SCIENCE.

The development and progress of storms
are phenomena that obviously depend
upon conditions existing throughout the
great masses of free atmosphere several
thousand feet above the surface of the
earth. Heretofore all systematic daily
weather observations have been made ia
the comparatively thin layer of air inn
mediatcly next to the surface of the
earth. If we except occasional observa-
lions made from balloons. all meieorolo-
sical data Is related solely TO surface con-
ditions. Further advances in the art Of
forecasting weather conditions upon Il
scientific basis demand simultaneous OBJ
serYationS al considerable elevations in
the free air. How to secure these with
regularity. at any time and at any place,
is the great problem. We believe that a
satisfactory solution viii be worked out
In the near future. The kites give us a
partial solution. and a large amount OF
searching scientific study has been given
by the United States weather bureau to
the kites, In order &c make of IL a thor
onEhly truetworthy and efficient piece of
aerial machinery for securing the de-
sired observations al great height in the
free air. Many most valuable improve
ments and important results have been
brought out. and preparations are now
far advanced toward equipping a few se-
lected stations with the necessary plant
for making observation whenever the
conditions permit.
II is obvious that kites. alone. are not
sufficient 10 enable as 10 make observa-
tons every day; but we regard this in
PRODUCTION of kites as a FIRST step in the
solution of the great problem. 1t IS
likely that the results from the kite OBJ
seTvations in the free air Will prove 10
| be Of much greater value for forecast
work than surface data. and IL this is
/ the case. we have no doubt but that the
| ingenuity OF our experts will be able TO
supplement the kite with other appara-
tus such as captive balloons, when the
/ air IS in a state OF calm, or even some
form Of self-uropelied aerial machines
| which have lately been shown TO be thor
/ ougbly practicable and possible achieve
p1ents Of aerial engineering. The value
/ OF the free-air observations being once es-
! tahiished, nature is bound 10 yield up to
| her persistent students the means and
/ methods whereby 10 secure the results
| they seek.
The United States weathe- service has
| been in existence twenty-.even years.
| During the past twenty-five years the
! daily syn0ptic charts OF the service have
shown the most comprehensive afn,os-
| rheric survey ever presented 70 the fore
| caster or 10 the broad investigator Of TIA.
| fundamental principle Of storms The
/ vast region row brought under the do
/ m.nion Of twice daily syBchrtnous obsar-
{ vations embraces su area az tending . nao
I miles north AMI south 1900 miles cast
| and west. and 50 fortunately located in
/ the }rterest % Ehe rnets oro!ogfst As to chr
I an important are from this clrcumpoiar
! th1roGEhfare of storms Of tie Sarthsrn
I n nispheTe. The extreme gLsnfs OF Or
seTvat3on are Edmonton. In tie Canadian
province Of Alberta. on the northwest.
s.. Johns 81 me northeast: Key We
+ on the southeas-. snd San Diego en- +ha
/ southwest. GnS arrangements are noa+
/ complete for a cooperation with Mexico
+ similar 10 tGaf n operation xith Canada
/ which viii in q few months extend ire
area % observation southwark over NJ
leo ard Yucatan.
II IS q wonderful panoramic t,ir,t.~a as
atmospheric coGds't ions. which Nv tho q a
! of simultaneous measurements ana so
/ electro magnetic telegraph Joining ,ha
I places ~ observation 10y magic ,e.,eh
/ IS presented q the trained eye If the IT,
/ casfer Each twelve hours the tae~ggs,
scope changes and 20 new xrauaic ,,lc.,,~a
% acsua! coalitions i shown w.
/ efse can the rneteorososIst flrd su.,a O.
! rortsnisy % Study storms and s.frnagr,A,ar-
ic changes
The widely Differing elevation ro,o.e,-
! pay. temperature and aTidttv o. the 80
region under observation give c,naitton.