Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1901-02-01
NANSEN ON TIE GULF STREAM.
Its Effect Upon European Wenthcs
Great, HIT Variable.

Its Effect Upon European Weathcs
Great, But Variable.
Prof. Nasen has made the following
statements with regard to the results
of the experiments conducted during
his last expedition on the Michael
Sars, which has lately returned to
Norfawy. The gulf stream. he says,
is subject to great changes. and very
little is as yet known as to its strength
in winter. 1t was much weaker on the
Norwegian coast this year than usual
ly is the case, and the temperature
was consequently lower. At the same
time very warm summer has been
experienced in the west of Iceland, and
the current that passes there was
warmer this summer than usual. In
general, the warm water coming from
the Atlantic into the northern re-
gions this summer appears to have had
different distribution than its usual
one This Is most important as re-
CARDS the climatic conditions on the
coasts which the stream passes.
1t is generally admitted that the
gulf stream considerably affects the
climate of the western coast of Britain
and Norway. of Iceland, and possibly
oven of Spitzbergen. The effect is
most marked in winter. While the
harbors of the Baltic are ice bound,
those on the western coast of Norway.
even as far north as Hammerfest, are
always open 10 shipping. In Great
Britain the lines of equal temperature
in January run nearly north and south,
instead of almost east and west, as in
July, so that anyone in Middlesbrough
would find warmer climate in mid
winter by going to Whitehaven than
by travelling due south to an equal dis
tauce This, also, is one of the reas-
ons why Aberdeen at that time is
much warmer than Vienna. The late
eminent mathematician, DR.. w. Hop
kins. estimated that without the gulf
stream the mean annual temperature
of Carnarvonshire would be ~ de-
grees. that of the north of Scotland
fully IL degrees and that of Ireland as
much as 20 degrees lower than at
present.
From the gulf of Mexico, where its
waters are raised to warmth in win
ter of n degrees F., and in summer
up to SO degrees F., it issues like a
huge river of warmer water flowing
over the vast mass of the cooler ocean
beneath. AS it issues from between
Florida and Cuba it is equivalent to
stream about fifty miles broad and
more than hundred fathoms deep,
which is then flowing at rate of from
three to four miles an hour Gradual
ly it spreads out like n partly opened
tam the more eastern part losing itself
In the Atlantic, the western and
ttronger flowing steadily in norther
W direction. and fenced off from the
American coast by the cold current
which is returning southwark from
lrctic regions. Thus it plays on uorth-
western Europe like stream flowing
from hose. and the water which has
left the gulf of Mexico in the hot sum-
mer months probably comes near to
the other side of the Atlantic in the
winter season. The amount of heat
which it transfers was estimated by
the late DR.. Croll as being equal to
what is received from the sun by rath-
er more than a million and half
square miles at the equator.
This heat is slowly radiated by the
broad layer of flowing water as it
Journeys from the boiler in the gulf of
Mexico to the refrigerator in arctic
seas. But Prof Nansens observa,i- us
suggest that the current does not al
ways follow precisely the same path.
That, indeed, is only to be expected.
While it's general direction will be con-
Btant-for that depends on great phys
tcal causes-minor variations are pos
bible. If. for instance, the southwark
arctic currents be little stronger than
usual, they will push the gulf stream
rather more to the east, and then Ice
land will suffer. If the observations
were taken over sufficiently wide
area OF the north Atlantic, and for a
long enough time. it might be possible
to prophesy the direction which the
gulf stream wonld follow in its jour-
ney across the Atlantic, and the places
on which it would have the greatest |
influence at any particular time-in
bther words. to foretell what kind Of |
season the farmer might expect.