Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-14
WHY THE FLOOD CAME DOWN
Kentucky Weather Sharp Points Out tn
Cause and Effect,
LAYS IT UP TO OLD PELEE
Volcanoes FIJI the Atmosphere with
Dust, Producing Irritation of
the Rain Duets and
COpiOus Weeping.

Felix Kerrick, a Kentucky weather sharp,
lecturer on physics in the Kentucky schod
OF medicine. explains the why and wherC-
fore of the flood in these words.
1t is at this period of the migration of the
rain belts that usually brings plentiful and
abundant rainfall. Part of this same terri
tory and a vast stretch of that fertile
country lying north of the present flooded
area was devastated and inundated by these
torrential rains and flooded rivers last
June and July. The present augmented
rainy season will most probably sweep
north and northeast until the whole area
flooded last year will be reinundated and
| waterswept. Two such floods following in
successive years, devasting the same terri
tory, can not fail to arouse the general
attention not only of the mass of the people
by the loss of human life and the
destruction of millions of dollars of prop
erty, but will also arouse the attention Of
scientists and meteorologists all over the
country by the irregular meteorological
Fconditions involved, that must nave existed
and do still exist, that could have rendered
and did ender possible two such floods in
two successive years. The irregular con-
ditions existing in the atmosphere that most
evidently produced this immense rainfall
still exist In the air, and are only
momentarily abated and will likely cause
throughout the remainder of this year and
possibly extend far into next years sea-
sons local and periodic floods over the
Western hemisphere, especially over the
North American continent. These floods will
be located along the courses OF certain
definitely fixed wind current and barometric
areas. hence I'm order to understand clearly
the existing conditions, a short and con-
else description of the areas of high and
low pressure and the annual migration OF
the rain belts is necessary.
Belts of High and Low Pressure.
Along the equator the intense heat Of the
sun heats the air, causing Il to expand,
become lighter, rise and flow away north
and south This area is known as the
equatorial belt Of low pressure, About 80
degrees north and south of this belt, these
winds tina started from the equator pole
ward begin to sink. aiding in forming what
are known as the belts of high pressure,
None of these belts are definitely fixed
Throughout the year. but they migrate
north and south with the sun. pulling the
whole atmospheric circulation along In
their
This tropical belt of high pressure lay
about the middle of May just south OF the
present flooded area. This belt OF high
pressure is usually a belt Of dry, variable
winds, whipping about listlessly, though
many times cyclonic winds sweep across It,
as has happened three times since May Is,
converting II into a temporary rain belt.
Blowing out from the poleward side OF this
belt Of high pressure are the westerly
winds, and these winds at this particular
season OF the year are transporting the
moisture OF the sinking upper currents tina
have come from the equator and are thus
moisture-laden rain-producing currents, and
TO these westerly winds, in connection with
the three cyclonic whirls that have recently
swept in from the south and the southwest
the first one starting May 20. the secont
May %. the third May q. is due the presen.
|. devastating flood in the western states
The three above mentioned cyclones swep.
/, in from the south and southwest. drawins
J I'm as an indraft great volumes OF warm
moist. saturated air from the region Of the
Gulf Of Mexico. This flooded area lies Jus