The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-04
How The Gulf Stream Affects the Climate
Of This Section.
ACoUPLE OF NOVEL THEORIES PROPOSED
Tho Chnr,eston Earthquake Effect OF
wind on tho stream Some Inter.
csting Figures showing tho DIT-
cTcncc in temperature Betwecn

At this time of the year, when winter
in MI its rigor has fastened his frosty
talons upon :the land and sea, and half
frozen humanity is shivcring in their
relentless grasp, the general public
turns with ulpfe,gncd gratitude to the
consideration of s0m;'tlrinS warm.
About the biggest and warmest uhing
in this section of the world is the Gulf
Stream, which is wrapped about the
shoulders of the south Atlantic coast
IKE some huge fur oyercoNt, keeping
hack tthc rugged winds from the fair
shores and nercifully temperfng the
climate to the wants and needs of
jewellers thereon
1t is because crf This great nautical
overcoat THAT nature has provided that
in spite Of occasional flaws OF extreme
cold, the Temperature OF this part of
the country has been remarkably pleas
ant in Writer months, and it is this
more than any condition of latitude
perhaps, that has made Tidcwatcr Vir-
Ginia the great trucking centre that
1t is
1T has been noted and is doubtless a
fact that the winters about Norfolk
have of late years been unusually mild
This present winter has bsen u strik-
ing illustration of this. UP to the first
OF this present month the character OF
~ Spring-like, even when a cSupla of
hundred miles away the Virginia noun
tatns were shccted with snow, people
were working in their offices in this
CITY In their shirt slseves, and go
ing about on the streets without over
coats or either wraps. Up until the
present Gold snap there has scarcely
been an excuse for heavy underwear
ut is said that since the great Charles
ton earthquake the Gulf Stream has
Neersd further in-shore, particularly off
Charleston. This is the statement OF
an individual and has never been
proven, or, so far as known, investi-
gntsd. 1t rs probably nothing more
'than an unscientiiic and unpliybablc
supposit:on.
Certain it is, however. that the stream
does Shift about Il good DIAL, but IL
always gets back into hts proper course
again The wind frequently blows 1t
toward the shore, some times several
miles but like steel spring, when
the pressure is removed 1t flies back
to Its original bent again. The theory
Is haZarded for what 1t is or is not
worth, THAT psa'ha4,s these spasmotic
quiVers OF the big monster made have
Something ito do with the occasional
| apparently incXplicable spells OF warm
weather that are experienced here
sometimes, perhaps only for n few
| hours 1T may DE that n steady breeze
| in-shore may blow the stream a very
| considerable distance in some times:
who can say? The photographic peo-
| pie, OF cl2Mrse, will laugh at the idea
(WHICH has originated, or at least, has
heen promulgated by few unscientiflc
individuals.
The Diamond Shoal lightshp is right
IN me western edge OF the stream. as
u Hrws by Cape Har.tsras. which is the
nearest point OH the coast Ito it, after
cit'e FLORIDA is passed. SI,rnc observa-
lions taken from this vessel would he
interesting. The ship is about five and
mari miles east of t.he Shoal.
fatcraS Is about 165 miles Grow,
Norfolk, and about GO miles from tho
centre 'of the Gulf Stream. NorfolI, is
is miles from the ocean ana o,hont On
miles from the axis of the stra,n,
Washington Is still further inland. and
very considerably further from the
N.rea9n. the difference i'm the temner-
AZURE OF these three points lis so mark
co. ana so persistent that the folp,win-
INJURIES VIII be found interesting. They
represent the current temperarIre I a :
ken ut these points at n. m. unon tho
us"es given, and 1t Will be seen that
Nortoik is from four to ten d,.lrrncs
Warnerthat Washington, and Hatteros
HaS q temperature of from Nlur IN ton
ueSTeeS hisher than Norfolk. The air
ierences are partially countera.tcd nv
me winds which sweep the coas,
The figures are taken from Ion,,r,,
18th to date: