The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-10-19
The Gulf Stream.


Seamen sometimes seem 10 forget
that even the most permanent OF
ocean currents are occasionally driven
ous Of their usual track by q success
ION Of strong winds from one d1rec-
ton. an6 The fairy tales with respect
60 the alleged vaga.ies OF the gutf
stream, told of late SO frequently,
aaly tend TO show that tae navigators
rather too equently regard that river
the ocean as not less firmly liked
velocity and direction than II It
Esre Towing to the sea between
banks formed by the solder earth OF
chr planet, says American Syren and
Snipping 6 AS q matter OF fact,
ever since the gulf stream was hrst
discovered about four centuries ago
MAS recognized by thoughtful nav
gators that fxisy OF tenure die not,
snd could not. hold Cor that vast
bod OF relatiFely warm water cnsh-
Tered of from the Atlantic coast OF
America By the colder water OF tie
labrador current, even as far toward
Sbe equasor as Florida. We're 2t not
Enr the gulf stream, or, more aecure
atoST she eastern extension thereof
She average air temperature IN the
rs nter world be not less than 70 de-
gsees below the freezing Point OF
water ON Fahrepeit therlncmeter re-
Uttered at the Shetland Islands. As
matters stand, the presence OF che re-
satsveiy cold currant fron the Arctic
HaShing cur shores inside Of the
warmer gulf stream closes up the har-
ors Of Newfoundland at the same
ine as The gulf stream extension Is
8epiug the Norwegian coass clear OF:
see even as far co the northWard as
she North Cape. 10 put 1t another way
ST. Johns NeWfound1and is some
I tines csosed with ice even as late III
sSla year as June while Liverpocl Eng
lard which is two degrees further to
the north has never been 10 that cons:
SiSion since the glacial epoch.
In fact it has been seriously sug-
sessaa that by diyerting che course
OF she galf stream into the Pacific
snrorgh She narrow neck OF land JOIN
tie two Americas It would be
aHits possibie 10 fresze ont a consider
abs portion cff Europe The cool
&z33E6QOESSS SaEISll5 SS963115 isO - pa " -
fxon the icy regions adJacent 20 the
North Pole inlpiuges with greater vel
sc5sy than usual upon the ncrthern
margin OF the gulf stream IN certain
wears cycionic storms travelling up
from she southwark deleet is also
and consequently the gulf stream al
ShoHgh probably the most permanent
Of all the gSeas ocean currents is not
lnrariable either IN velocity or IN
direction. Generally speaking this
ocean ssiTer IN the lower lati-
srdss OF the Atlantic is driven
westward by the prevailing eastsrly
wiuds acting upon the sea snrface-
unti the western side OF the Gulf OF
! Mexico IS attained then it follows
land until an outlet is found,
xzxrough the Strait of Florida which
being both narrow and shallow canses
she velocity cf the current to increase.
3 Thence iSsEeeps psncTtheas5ward outside
of the Labrador cool current hugglng
sha coast untiil the: banks Of New
fouudland are reached Abous sbere.
the guIs stream proper is said TO lose
is Identity as snch but the warm wa
Eesst hereof are driven. by the prevail
zug westerly winds toward the Unit:
Sd Kingdom, Norway and even Spitz-
bergen. Many irregularities are
krcWu So occur in beth the direction
ana the velocity Of the gulf stream
from tins to time consequent on wind
changes and variations In barometric
pressure. Pa
zrios TO the age of chronometers
most extraYagant views We're plg for
yaTd b ravigatirs and others IN a
hurry OF the efecs that by the aid OF
nordinary Thermometer the longi-
snds could be accurately determined if
ss,a shipmaster would but trouble to
take series OF ea-surface tempera-
TIRES when IN the vicinity of the gulf
stream. Similarly the sea-surface
semperature was regarded Ia about
the same geographical position as
an infaiiibIe guide to the proximity
o. ice Neither inference is true.
High temperature indicates tropical
origin and sow temperature indicates
poEar origin, generally speaking; but
beyond this it is dangerous TO prsdl-
cate The relatively warm water may
be ID 8 very abnormal position for
Sf<6 stfT1OG CT 5DS year rSSWiDS. I'd uatU-
raj causes and a fan Of % degrees
Fahrenheit is sometimes experienced
IN & short ships length ON the ming
~5sng places Of the warm gulf stream
and cold Labrador current on bean
tSfaIly clear day without the slight
est sign OF ice of any kind above the
boundary line of sea and sky. Many
sailing ship after GaiEly trying to
reach New York has got badly iced mp
zsad run to the warmer waters OF the
gnIs stream to thaw ont both her
crew and her gear; but neither the
1ougitu6e nor the presence of ice can
be rightly determined solely by the
aid Of sea-surface temperatures.
Nevertheless the use of the sea-surface
thermometer is not to be despised be-
cause it is undoubtedly of approx
nate assistance in defining ships
geographical position. The line of
separation of the two currents, the
cool Labrador and the warm gulf
sEream is often noticeable either by
the vivid blUe Of the salter gulf