The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-17

4 nave its effect upon the lake level
The deficiency in precipitation is al
/ present only 50 of an inch. II Feb
ruary, as ii has done in the past, proves
to be wet month, this deficiency may
+ Dc made up, and with the melting OF
the heavy SHOWS that have fallen in
the mountains during the winter. the
lake may be expected TO rise rapidly
and 10 a good height.
Dry Cycle May Be Broken.
The month of january, as is shown
by the weather records, has been ex-
ceptionally dry since 1897. and deficient
In precititation since 1892. The fact
/ mat a rise in the lake has been noted
IN this dry month is taken as an in
dlcation that the dry cycle or cycle of
deneient precipitation has been broken
ana that now We may expect a wet
cycle or cycle Of increased precipita-
tlon- II the precipitation does no more
tnan regain its normal status. il VIII
take only two winters to put the lake
at the level at which it stood when the
remarkable recession Of the waters
commenced.
If, as is believed. the dry cycle is
over the necessary increase in nrecini-
tatlon may be expected In view of its
Importance in relation to the lake. the
weather of next month will he wa tcbed
4.
In regard to the dry cycle which
caused the falling of salt lake. Mr.
Murdoch has gathered some interesting
Iata showing that this cycle of de-
hcient precipitation has been general
81 over the world, causing a decided
railing in inland lakes evervwhere Pc
ports from weather stations in various
parts of the world show that for from
SIX to fifteen years past the annual
q Hd-
almost every country
General Decrease in Precipitation.
Of course, in local districts. the con
dltions in many places have been the
reverse, but the general tendency is
IoWard a decrease in precipitation.
This decrease has been followed nv a
ialling in the levels of inland lakes ev-
etyWhere One report from the coast
OF China shows that for the past six
years the precipitation there has been
decreasing from one TO two inches. and
even more, each year. In fact. it has
decreased so much that the report !
states that rice crops this year win
De a total failure.
In regard to the cause of this de- /
;rease in precipitation, number of
neorles nave been advanced but none /
u tnem seems to be generally accented. 4
theory advanced to explain the re-
ilarkable decrease in precipitation on
ne Chinese coast, where it is perhaps
more marked than any other place in
ne world, Is that submarine seismic
disturbances have affected the Lamar
,urrent, thus affecting the monsoons
nat play such an important part in
,Sneral climatic conditions along the
1"i"d coast. Other authorities, how
Yer, believe that something far moro
extensive and important is responsible
or the general deficiency in precipita-
ion.
Heat From the Sun
theory that has been advanced
nd that is looked upon as quite prob
oie, is That there has been a change
the amount of heat that the earth
sceiNes from the sun. 1t is argued bv
nese theorists that the sun is SLOWLY
Ut surely cooling and shrinking in
We, thus diminishing the amount of
eat that is received by the earth. and
ausihg relative change in climatic
ondltlOns- As precipitation depends
pom these conditions. it is evident that
decrease in the heat received by the
7rth would, of course, reduce the
mount or evaporation from oceans.
lkes and rivers, thus reducing the
mount of precipitation. As these con-
iuons are of worldwide extent. scieD-
SIS seem TO be of the opinion that |
le conditions must in some way be the
suit Of solar changes or influences.
II Il be the case that the sun is shut |
ng on the earth's supply of heat. and
III continue TO do SO, the question !
, Wnat viii happen? vii 1.-The heat
reduced TO such an extent that there
Ill De no more evaporation through
'lar influences, and what will happen