The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
THE GULF STREAM MYTH.
New Light as to Origin and Course of
This Ocean Current.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
About thirteen years ago a writer in the
Sun summarized the evidence collected by
the leading oceanographers of the day with
regard to the course of the gulf stream in
the Atlantic and the alleged effect of this
current upon the climate Of western Eu-
rope The quotations in that article from
such scientific leaders as Carpenter. Blu
chanan Alexander Agassiz, Findlay.
Thoulet and others clearly showed that all
the evidence collected from the time of the
Challenger soundings pointed Enthusiastically
to the disappearance of the gulf stream as
a distinct, traceable current a little to the
southeast of Newfoundland. Oceanogra-
pliers had proved, in fact, that the gulf
stream ceases to exist before reaching the
mid-Atlantic, and. having settled this ques-
ton beyond all dispute. they naturally be-
gan TO combat the idea, promulgated by the
gifted scientific writer Lieutenant sMaury
a half-century ago, that il was the gulf
stream which. crossing the Atlantic!
warmed the western coast of Europe and
kept the harbor of Hammerfest, within the
Arctic circle, free from ice.
Some textbooks, still used in our schools
assert that northwest Europe would be n
bowling arctic waste If it were not for the
genial influences brought TO its shores by
the gulf stream. This fact Illus
universally accepted as truth and power
fully impressed upon the popular magma
ton. The proceedings" OF the Royal Geo
graphical Society predicted, ten or twelve
years ago, that lit will probably take a
generation or two to eradicate the old er-
roneous notions of textbooks and popular
treaties concerning the gulf stream" The
present prospects, happily. are that IL viii
not take more than A generation after the
scientific revolt against Maury's baseless
theory began TO enlighten the textbook
xIFc
ers.
In none of the best reference books, at
lases and maps Of to-day is the gulf stream
represented as extending TO the European
coast The truth discovered by the ocean
ographers that the stream disappears in
midocean is being spread abroad with pow
erful iteration and emphasis. The actual
causes OF the mild climate OF western
Europe. discovered through the accumu-
iatiOn of proven facts in the domain OF
meteorology, are having wider and wider
circulation through popular as well as
scientific publications. A few months ago,
the Monthly Weather Review published by
our government and edited by Prof. Cleve-
land Able, one Of the leading meteorolO-
gists, contained an able article exposing the
fallacies of the old gulf stream theory and
giving the conclusions Of modern science
as 10 the causes OF the mild climate OF
western Europe The recent publications
OF the Deutsche Seewarte of Hamburg, de-
voted to photography and marine climatOl-
Ogy, and those of the British HydrOgra phic
once have left the gulf stream myth moth
ing TO stand on.
The latest and one Of the most valuable
contributions 10 this subject Is an article
in the current number Of Scribner's Maga-
zine on THE Gulf Stream Myth and the
Anti-CyclOne" by Harvey III. Watts, OF
Philadelphia-au article that is not only
scientific but also written IN a manner 20
interest and edify unscientific readers Mr.
Watts is one OF the increasing number Of
writers who are showing that a scientific
topic may be adequately treated without
being CARRIED in an unattractive literary
dress The article gives the history OF
! the origin and PRONUNCIATION Of the belief
! that the gulf stream is the sole cause OF
the mild oceanic climate OF western Europe.
/ The writer shows now completely this the
/ DRY failed 10 grasp the profound influence
1 Of the drift OF the atmosphere In deter
mining the nature OF weather and climate.
1 II is not sea current, but the prevailing
| air current blowing from the Atlantic 20 the
/ lands OF Europe that gives a genial char
/ acter 10 The climate OF those far northern
/ regions
IL would be 10 the advantage OF most
/ teachers OF geography 10 read and study SO
clear an exposition as this article gives OF
our present knowledge OF the laws OF at
/ mospheric circulation and the effect OF
these air currents in different parts OF the
world.
/ The gist OF the whole matter as far as IL
| relates 10 the climate OF west Europe. Is