Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-11-17

RAAA ~
dustry.
Attic American scientists were the pi-
oneers in discovering the progressive
character OF storms, and in demonstrate
ing the practicability OF weather serv-
ices. the United States a only the
fourth country to give legal autonomy
to a weather service. Holland estab-
lished a weather service, with telegraph
reports and forecasts. in 1860; England
followed, with a smaller service, in
1861; and France. in 1853. But none OF
these countries has an area, from which
observations can be collected, great
enough to give such a synoptic picture
OF storms as is necessary In the making
Of useful forecasts. II would require ar
international service, embracing all the
countries of Europe, to equal ours in
extent Of the area covered and In the ac-
curacy OF its forecasts.
The vast region now included in the
scope of the weather bureau system OF
observations embraces Canada and the
Gulf OF Mexico; the whole having ar
extending 1000 miles north and
south, 5000 miles east and west, and sc
located In the interest OF the
meteorological as to include an important
arc OF the circumpolar thoroughfare5 Of
storms of the northern hemisphere
Simultaneous observations, collected
twice daily by telegraph from about zoe
stations. distributed turnout this great
render it possible at several CEN
trail offices. where all the reports are re-
ceived, to present to the trained eye OF
the ~forecaster a wonderful panoramic
picture of atmospheric conditions. Every
hours the Kaleidoscope changes
and a new graphic picture of actual
changes is shown. The movements OF
the storm centers and cold-wave areas
are noted, and estimates made az to
their probable course during the mex
twenty-four hours. Where else can the
meteorologist find such an opportunity
to study storms and atmospheric
change? The widely differing eleva-
ton, topography, temperature, humidity
and aridity OF the broad region under
offer unequaled conditions
for the study Of the mechanical phases
of storm development and progression
SO far as such can be probably studied
with observations taken only at the bot
tom of the ocean OF air surrounding the
earth. Our storms and cold waves car
be studied during their inception at az
average altitude of 5000 feet above sea
level, under conditions OF extreme arid
ity; they a be observed later, as they
come down almost to sea level In the
Mississippi valley and reach a more hu.
mid atmosphere 1000 miles from the
place Of their birth; and, finally, the,
can be seen as they reach the extremel,
hi Trt1 oitHpFA tho s. A la pxio Il Conor 4 sAf
miles farther east.
The great winter storms which origi-
nate south of the Japanese Islands and
cross the Pacific ocean come under our
vision as they successfully surmounl
the formidable Rocky mountains with
but little diminution Of energy, sweer
the continent With increasing
force and heavy precipitation and with
in three days pass beyond our meteoro-
logical horizon At the Atlantic aeaboard
to be heard from occasionally three days
later az borealt ravagers OF northern Eu.
rope.
The great a~nticyclones, or high-pres.
sure areas, which constitute the Ameri-
can cold waves. drift into our territory
from the Canadian northwest provinces
and are studied under rapidly changing
conditions during 5000 miles of thei,
course The high-pressure eddy, with
all the conventional principles Of the cy.
clone reversed. may be said not to de-
pend upon the land OF its birth for the
cold 1t brings: for a strong vertical and
anticyclonic motion at the center is con
.tinually bringing down the cold air from
above. In other words, u cold waves
are not. as was once supposed. masses
Of heavy air chilled by flowing over the
snow and ice fields of the Arctic ccear
and transported to our central valleys
with such rapidly OF translation as te
attain much of their original frigidity.
In 1870 and for some years thereafter
our forecasts and storm warnings were
looked upon by the press and the people
more a experiments than as serious
statements. The newspapers especially
We're prone to comment facetiously or
the forecasts, and many were clamorous
for the abolition OF the service during
the fret years of its existence. There
was some ground for the criticisms. We
knew nearly az much about the me.
chanics OF storms at that time as we d.
today; but we had not-by a daily
watching OF the inception, the develop.
.lnent, and the progression OF storms
trained a corps of expert forecasters
as now form a part Of the staff Of
the chief of the weather bureau, and
from which he himself was graduated
After q time mariners began to note
danger signals We're. In the great
majority of ase followed by heavy
winds, and they reasoned that It were
better to take precaution against fore
storms that never came than to be
unprepared for those which did come.
It Is a fact that many times. by the
operation OF forces moi Indicated by the
surface readings. the barometer at the
center Of a storm begins to rise and thu
velocity Of the whirling mass to de.
crease. In such cases the storm signal.
placed in advance Of the storm center
would fail to give the proper informa-
ton. Again, the storm center may sud.
denly acquire q force not anticipated, o,
1t may pursue a track considerably di
vergent from the normal for the location
and season. In this case, also, the fore.
casts may warn some cities that fail Il
receive the effects of the storm. Thu
STAFF Of the weather bureau. which in.
many meteorologiets, has no,
failed to make a study OF the peculiari
.ties Of the several types OF storms oc.
curing in different localities during the
various eeasons OF the year, their line 81
travel, and the force that they may b,
expected to attain. The comparative
merits of those who by natural abilit!
We're bert htted correctly and quickly I,
cOrrelate In their minda the condition.