The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-17

face winds from Lake Superior. the warn
| ing effect cf these winds being sensible a
| times 20 the height of nearly 5000 feet
| During these diversions the direction o
( the cppsr air current would be almost OF
| entirely Numerically opposite to that al
the surface. On June 9, 1898. there wa,
| an inversion of 9 degrees at an elevation
! OF 81 feet, and on September 20. 1898
| one of l degree at an elevation of 5,7l4
| feet.
Differences in wind direction were in
| dictated by the changes in the ayimuths
| of The kites. These showed that as an al
most unrarying rule, the general directions
above and ct the surface were practically
| the same, the differences being confined &c
DETECTION toward the right of the kite
This detection frequently increased with
the altitude. but rarely exceeded 30 de-
grees. In some few instances the kite was
defiected toward the left. but not to any
great extent. When the DETECTION was in
this d 5ection. the wind velocity decreased
with increase of altitude. as shown by the
diminished pull on the kite wire An in
teresting coincidence was noted in con-
nection with the detection of the kite to-
ward the left. that such reflections were
almost invariably followed by electric
storms within a few hours.
Character of the Winds.
"At Duluth. Mimi. there were occa-
sionally vide Emergencies of the kite to-
ward the left. due to the northeast wind
from Lake Superior. The northeast wind
was very often purely local, attributable
entirely to the -.iuence of the lake. and
corresponding II a minor way to the sea
breezes of the ece IN shores. 1t developed,
upon Investigation, that these local cur
rents were sometimes not more than 100
or 500 feet in depth, and rarely more than
1000 feet. Hammun and McAdie recorded
somewhat similar experience with the
westerly surface winds at San Francisco
during their kite experiments in 1896, and
in his paper On the subject Mr.. Harmon
concludes that the strong westerly surface
wind which prevails on the Pacific Coast
nearly every afternoon has depth CT only
500 to $500 feet. An extension of the
aerial observations to other seacoasts
would doubtless prove conclusively that
the dismal sea breezes are extremely shall
low.
After November 1895. all kite stations
were closed. except that at Pierre, S. D.,
where ascensions were made whenever
possible during the year 1899, and still
continue. No extended study of the OBJ
servations made during this time has as
yet been made, but a cursory examination
of the winter temperature records dis
closes condition OF affairs radically diff
ferent from that which prevails during
the remaining seasons Of the year. The
diversions are very frequent and decidedly
marked. Indeed. they are SO persistent
during the colder weather as to lead to
the inevitable conclusion that. during a
cold wave, the belt of cold air is not
much over one mile in height, and often
but little over hais a mile.
"On several days 1t was also noticed
that there were at least three distinct
air strata within very narrow vertical
limits-a lower. cold one extending up
ward about 500 feet. warmer one ex-
tending to between $500 and 5000 feet.
and then second cold one OF unknown
extent"
1t is still the hope of Professor Moore
and the officials OF the Weather Bureau
that system Of aerial observation at
great attitudes may be perfected in order
that complete results may be obtained,
Irrespective OF weather conditions.