The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1904-12-23


Occur In Both the Direction and In
the Velocity OF This Peculiar River
of the Atlantic
Seamen sometimes seem TO forget
that even the most permanent of ocean
currents are occasionally driven out of
their usual track by Il succession OF
strong winds from one direction, and
the fairy tales with respect to the al
legged vagaries of the gulf stream told
50 frequently only tend I" show that
navigarorS rather 100 frequently re-
gard that river i'll the ocean as not less
firmly liked in velocity and direction
than if il were flowing to the sea be-
tween banks formed by the solid earth
OF onr planet. As a matter of fact
ever since the gulf stream was first
discovered aboIn four centuries ago it
waS recognized by thoughtful naViga-
tors that fiXity Of tenure did not and
could not hold for that vast body of
relatively warm water cushioned off
from the Atlantic coast of America by
The colder waters of the Labrador cur
rent even as far toward the equator as
Florida. Were ii not for the gulf
stream. or. more accurately, The cast
rrn extension thereof. the average air
1c:npcrature in the winter would be
not less than - degrees below the
freezing point OF water on Il Fahren-
hcit thermometer registered ut the
Shetland islands. As matters stand
the presence of the relatively cold cur
rent from the Arctic washing our
shores. inside of the warmer gulf
stream, closes up the harbors of New
foundland ut the same time as the gulf
stream extension is keeping the Nor
wcgian coast clear of ice even as far
to the northward aS the North cape.
To put ii another way, st. John :,
n t.. is sometimes closed with ice
even as late i'll the year us June. while
Liverpool. which is degrees farther
to the north. has never been i'll that
condition since the glacial epoch.
I.
gested that by diverting the course of
the gulf stream into the Pacific,
through the narrow neck Of land join
ing the two Americas, it would be
quite possible to freeze out a consid-
cradle portion of Europe. The cool
Labrador current setting southwark
from the icy regions adjacent to the
ity than usual upon the northern mar
gin of the gulf stream in certain years.
Cyclonic storms travelling up from the
southwark defect it also. and conse-
uucntly the gulf stream, although prob
ably the most permanent OF all the
great ocean currents. is not invariable
either in velocity or in direction. Cen
orally speaking, this ocean river in the
lower attitudes of the Atlantic is driy
Ell westward by the prevailing eaSterly
winds acting upon the sea surface un-
til the western side of the gulf of Mex
leo is attained. Thence it follows the
land till all outlet is found through the
strait of Florida, which, being both
narrow and shallow, causes the veloc-
ity of the current TO increase. Thence
it sweeps northeastward outside of the
Labrador cool current hueging the
coast until the banks of Ncwf0und-
land are reached. About there the
gulf stream proper il said to lose its
identity as SUCH but the warm waters
thereof are driven by the prevailing
westerly winds toward the United
Kingdom. Norway and even SpitZbcr-
gen. Many irregularities are known
TO occur in both the direction and III"
velocity of the gulf stream from time
to time. consequent on wind changes
and variations in barometric pressure.
Prior to the age of thermometers most
extravagant views We're put forward
by navigators and others in Il hurry 10
the effect that by the aid of an ordinary
thermometer the longitude could be az
curately determined if the Shipmaster
would but trouble to take Il series of
sea surface temperatures when i'll the
vicinity of the gulf stream. Similarly
the sea surface temperature was re-
garded in about the same geographical
position as an infaliible guide To the
proximity of ice. Neither Inference is
true High temperature indicates
tropical origin and low temperature in
dicates polar origin generally speaking.
but beyond this ii is dangerous to pred
icate The relatively warm water
may be in very abnormal position for
the period of the year owing TO natural
causes. and fall of % degrees Fahren-
heit is sometimes experienced i'll 4
short ships length on the minSling
places of the warm gulf stream and
cold Labrador current on 4 beautifully
clear day without the slightest sign of
ice of any kind above the boundary line
of sea and sky. Many Il sailing ship,
after vainly trying to reach New York,
has got badly iced up and run to the
warmer waters Of the gulf stream 10
thaw out both her crew and her gear,
but neither the longitude nor the pres
encc of ice can be rightly determined
solely by the all of sea surface tenn
peratures. Nevertheless the Use of the
sea surface thermometer is not to be
despised, because it is undoubtedly of
approximate assistance i'll defining 4
ships geographical position. The line
OF separation of the two currents, the
cool Labrador and the warm gulf
stream, is often noticeable either by
the vivid blue of the salter gulf stream
in close proximity TO the green color
OF the fresher Labrador current or by
the ripple on the margin. 1t is SAID
that Il blockade runner from Whining
ton, y. c., when chased by Fedcrai
cruiser. managed to escape by the OBJ
servation of this friendly ripple. The
| blockade runner edged into the cur
rent more favorable for her. while the
cruiser kept in the adverse current and
lost the pri2e.-Amcrican Syren and
Shipping.