The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-11

- RAVITATfON and rotary motion
u combine to form currents in the
ocean basins. which rotate In zones
and circles. The harmony of the
ocean tide. says John II. Martin
in the Boston Globe Is preserved 10y the
sun and moon. which introduce variations
while the order is maintained.
The earth's atmosphere forms cush-
ion to overcome the friction which other
wise would happen from her unequal sur
face and great speed.
The easterly motion OF the moon pre-
serves the equilibrium OF the ocean, and
regulates the time OF the tide, according
to the establishment of the port. being 90
minutes later daily.
The difference in the attractions of the
sun and moon changes the gravity OF the
earth. in the northern oceans, when
their decl!nation is south, as in winter.
the day tide is higher than the night tide.
and In summer the night tide is higher
than the day tide, while In spring and au-
tumn the day and night tides are equal.
At new and full moon. when the earth Is
In equilibrium, spring tides occur; at quad
Fature when the eccentrtcity OF the earth
f. greatest. neap tides occur
The rotary motion Of the earth causes
the oceanic waters In the torrid and frigid
zones 10 gravitate westerly. The polar
waters also gravitate toward the equator,
equatorial waters. under tho intense heat
Of the tropics. expand and force their way
along the eastern coast lines, outside the
cold currents, toward the poles
The great flows from the extremes OF
heat anu cold meet In the temperate
zones The warm currents are turned
easteriy and cross 20 the other CONT
nents, and again turn toward the poles,
outside the cold currents, and also branch
toward the equator. completing the great
rotary currents. The warm currents GO
ing toward the poles again meet the great
flow OF the cold currents. and are turned
westward and recross the ocean drop
ping OF their warm branches under the
polar circles.
The polar currents on the eastern coast
lines being the stronger currents defect
toward the equator and attract the lag
cling warm currents IN tho direction OF
their own flow. completing the lesser ro-
tary currents,
Between the two rotary currents, which
comprise the bulk OF the oceanic waters.
the warm currents flow easterly In oppo-
sition TO the natural gravity of the ocean.
by the combination Of ocean currents
and rotary currents the circulation %
the ocean Is maintained. The rotary cur
rents oscllate westward and eastward
westward nv the earth's gravity caused
by her daily motion. eastward BY the
earth's gravity caused by the daily mo-
ton % the moon. The oscillating rotary
currents press alternately on th. warm
currents and they IN turn press on the
cold currents this lateral pressure on the
currents increases their speed The In
draught % bays, harhors and other tn
deutatlons relieves tho inneg currents 90
thcir great pressure and increases their
speed.
The friction OF the currents causes the
succession % minute waves. which. being
al fsa4 n
AZ a great speed When nearing tho coast
however. their speed ~ lessened and their
hcight aud force are Increased ny one
% those startling strokes q which ma
tura seems fond, atmospheric pressure
which has fosced the littla tide waves 20
such gigantic heights, rsYersss the order
and drives them back through ocean cur
venta when ola ocean let's 80 his mighty
grip thus from the ocean Centsrs. the
rotary currents tarn on thslr axes. free
jnE TIRE currsnts on the east ard pressing
tht currents 0u the vest alternately.
The balancing % the ocean serves the
aoabla purpoAe ~ directing ana lucrcas-
ing the tlGe through gcean currents ehirh
surround &c on all sides. The polar cur
reuts press On the warm cargenfa AZ
their chief points a friction great tlaes
are produced as. Tor example. ths bay 50
Fundy. the Bristol channel ard the strait
~ Magellan The Islands To- mid-ecsAn
have tho smallest tides The sNFEasso
seas loeate the axes Of the rotary cur
rents. IN The North Atlantic the cold
current dips under the gulf stream. Ana
elrculates hack within the tWo branches
- the warm current and tinaily defects
toward the axes os the rotary current
There are warm currents found under
the Arctic circle ~ far north as Nova
H~mbla- This Iceland and Aasfhns bay
branches leave the gulf stream a. Il cir
caiates westward from the Norway coast.
Tho North Pacific has ene rotary cur
rent The land closing ~ at the north
prevents the greater Influence of the
Arctic on the ocean currents. and cohse.
queutly produces less tides than that Ok
the Atlantic
IN the Indian ard Southern oceans the
same combination oil zone currents and
rotary currents exist; there being less
land ard thc continents extending less
toward the pole, the cold currents come
In frogn the southwest Owing 20 the