The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

thought reveals to the physicist that the
volume Of superintendent air is so great
and its capacity for retaining moisture so
enormous that the additional vapor of
water evaporated as above described, great
though ii be, is Intellectual to change APP
probably the amount of rainfall which ma
ture beforehand had ordained should be
precipitated. The size of continental areas.
the topography of the land surface. the
proximity of large bodies of water, and
the direction OF the prevailing winds, are
all factors in determining weather con-
ditions of a region, and these. Of course,
are not subject to radical alterations in
their nature. except, perhaps, in long geo.
logic periods. Thus. II the Rocky Noun
tains could be lowered TO the height of the
Appalachian chain, tho vapor-laden winds
from the Pacific would blow inland, and
probably cause copious rainfall as far east
as Colorado. Western Kansas, and West
ern Nebraska.
The vast region row included in the
scope of the United States Weather Bu-
reau system of observations. embraces
Canada and the Gulf OF Mexico, the whole
having an area extending 1900 miles north
ard south. and 1900 miles east and west.
1t is so fortunately located for the opera
tons of the scientist as to include an i'm
portant arc on the circumpolar thorough
Idrt OF STORMS OF Inc
sphere Simultaneous observations are
made twice daily from the stations distri-
buted throughout this great area, and re-
ported at once by telegraph TO the main
Office in Washington.
The Weather Bureau thus obtains a
complete record Of atmospheric condi-
lions over the entire country, and cal
culation determines the location of storm
centres, the probability of cold waves, and
of fair or unpleasant weather. Nowhere
else in the world does the meteorologist
find such opportunities for the study of
storm and atmospheric changes. The
widely differing elevation, topography.
temperature humidity. and aridity of the
gigantic area under scrutiny offer IN
eoualed conditions for the study OF the
phases of storm development and pro-
gression, so far as such can be protitably
observed from the bottom Of the great
aqueous ocean surrounding the earth.
The winter storms which originate
south of the Japanese Islands are very
important objects of observation to the
Weather Bureau experts. After crossing
the Pacific Ocean, these storms success
sively surmount the Rocky Mountains
with but little diminution ef energy.
sweep across this continent with increas-
ing force and, within three days, pass
over our Atlantic seaboard and are heard
from occasionally, three days later, as
boreal ravagers of Northern Europe.
It should be remembered that science
owes the discovery OF the rotary motion
of storms. and the laws governing their
progression. TO Benjamin Franklin, whose
recognition OF these phenomena long be-
fore anyone had ever seen any charts
seems scarcely less than prophetic. This
discovery OF Franklin's was. perhaps, OF
greater general Importance than his iden-
tification of the thunderbolt with the
electric fluid; yet his contemporaries
thought little of his philosophy of storms.
and 1t was soon forgotten. Nevertheless.
the most valuable feature of the work of
the Weather Bureau today is founded
upon the storm data laid down by Frank
lin.
AT the time of the founding of the first
I OF the thirteen colonies at Jamestown in
1901. practically nothing was known of the
properties of the air, or Of methods for
measuring its phenomena. Today at about
200 stations in America. electrically re-
coTding automatic meteorological instru-
msnts measure and transcribe. for each
moment of time, the temperature, air
pressure velocity. and direction OF the
wind. the beginning OF rainfall, the amount
OF precipitation and the sunshine or cloud.
In 1870. and for some years thereafter,
Weather Bureau were looked upon by press
and people more as experiments than as
serious statements. The newspapers. in
particular, were prone to comment face
tiousiy on the forecasts, and many were
clamorous for the abolition Of the service
during the first years of its existence.
There was indeed. some ground for these
criticisms. Nearly as much was known
about the mechanics of storms at that time
as now but the methods of observation
were. necessarily. faulty. There was not
possible daily watching OF the inception
development, and progression of storms
! by trained corps OF expert forecasters
/ as is now the case. And so 1t has come
TO pass that mariners have begun to notice
| that danger signals are now, in the great
[ majority of cases, followed by heavy winds
! and they naturally reason that ii were
! better to take precaution against forecast
| storms that never come than TO be unpre-
| pared for those which do come. 1t is an
| acknowledged fact by the Weather Bureau
| officials themselves. that, Notwithstanding
| the progress Of meteorological science dur
| ing the last hundred years, the art OF
| weather forecasting. as II exists at present
| is based wholly upon experimental data
| nor Is there any indication that the accur-
acy OF astronomers in predicting an
| eclipse will ever be achieved by the
! Weather Bureau In its particular line.