The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-10-03
RAINS AT CHERRAPOONJEE

From the Pail Mall Gazette.l
Most of US have not troubled to study
the details of the rainfall Of our own ISL
ands, being content to accept the popular
belief that ours is the wettest climate in
the world. because our old friend the gulf
stream brings US a never-ceasing supply
from the ocean to the west of US. Taking
a series OF years, the average annual
rainfall over the United Kingdom ranges
from 20 inches to . inches in the south
eastern counties Of England to from 50
inches to so inches in the mountainous
districts on the western coasts. London'S
average is p inches, rarely as low as 70
inches or as much as 80 inches in any
one year, while falls of much
seldom recorded During the first five
and a half months OF this year, down TO
tne mere oasdSelIo OF zOs-Sf lncneS OF
rain, that, clearly. we ought to deal
er than in inches. Within the limits of
single week aggregate fail was 4.49
gauge registered 1915 inches and IS. p
inches, or more in fOrty-eight hours than
a whole twelvemonth-
If We look at a map of the Indian em-
Bengal leading to the extensive lovely
is reached before an elevation of 100 feet
above the sea level is attained Sudden
" the khaSia hills or rather mountains
in the southwest of Assam, rise abrupt
ly from this great plain Beetling cliffs
tower above the plains of Cacher to an
elevation OF thousands of feet, the es-
carpment facing south, toward the Bay
elevation of about 1900 feet there is, fac
ing southeast, a deep gorge with preci-
wall OF rock rising up straight another
couple OF thousand IeeC- Al the top or
this terrible cliff. at elevation of 4 100
pIafn- on which stands the little station
of CherrapoOnJee, close TO the edge of
the p-ecipice.
Cherra is not a wet spot all the year
OF n
pire, IL has its dry and wet seasons. the
former under the northeast monsoon (the
wind from the interior of Asia(. the latter
under the southwest monsoon (the wind
from the Indian oceanl. During the four
months November TO February. when the
experienced. less than London re-
cefves in the same period. but with March
comes a marked increase in the fall and
it attains its maximum in June and July
when the southwest monsoon is fully es-
tablisheds afterward decreasing again.
The average annual fall is about 500 inch
IS to which the four dry months coutri-
butte in all five inches and the two wet
test months $50 inches. At the wettest
spot IN the British Isles the Stye, near
SeathWaite. in the uuberiand hills the
rain falI for the year averages as much
as 1s4 inches, but Cherra's average for
the month Of July alone exceeds $50
The explanation lies in the situation of
Cherra with regard to the rain-bearing
winds The Bay of Bengal is a vast caul-
drOn of warm water perpetua1Iy throw
ing of immense volumes Of moisture. To
the northWard the SOOnderbuns and Jhils,
low-lying sWamps covered by flood wat
erS during the midsummer months, sup
ply much moisture the bay. It is
over these immense areas of aqueous va
pOr that the southwest monsOOns sweeps.
carrying inland the precious liquid, which
Is poured down on the country IN such
a lavish manner. Even at sea level or
therea bouts the cOpiOusneSs of the rain
may be gathered from the fact that it
averages about 100 inches annually. but
Cherra gets five times as much as the
plains. while places on the little plain
within half a mile Of Cherra but not so
exposed return from 20 inches to 100 inch
es 4 year less When the southwest mon
soon strikes the face of the great cliffs
of the khasia hills it is already super
saturated with the moisture collected
further south, and II can not con-
tinue on its course at a low level il is
forced 10 ascend to the top of the range
and IL is this sudden ascensional move
ment that brings about the discharge of
such stupendous torrents of rain on the
summit.
Now, as to the marvellous records at
ChsTra- As already stated the avera &c
annual precipitation there may be taken
as 500 inches, in 1850 IL was 700 inches
while in 1851 it exceeded 9g5 inches. or
more than p yards. against Lond0n's pal
try . inches Back in 1S41 Yule measured
264 inches for the month of August alone
inches to the total July. 1865 had EOS
inches and the same month in 1861 no less
than 366 inches, or more than 80 feet.
Hooker mentions 30 inches in one day and
500 inches during a stay OF seven months
over as long a period as five days rain
falls at Cherra at a rate of an inch or
more per hour. For shorter periods the rates
hours. Il inches in six hours IS inches in