The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1906-12-25
THE GULF STREAM.
A Marine Phenomenon Whose
Strangcness Never Abates.


originates in the Gulf OF Mexico.
Trade winds and other forces drive
tho water into that receptacle be-
tween the southern coast Of Cuba
and the northern coast OF YuCatan.
I'm short time the level inside would
become much higher than that OF the
sea outside If relief were not afforded
The fluid. now having a temperature
of over so degrees, escapes between
Cuba and tho southern extremity Ot
Florida. Inasmuch rs some rests
lance is encountered at first from
the trade winds (still from the north.
easD the current hugs the coast
pretty closely until it gets as far
north as Hatteras. II is then beyond
the trade wind belt
Thereafter its course is shaped by
two influences, the momentum previ-
ously acquired by the water and the
prevailing breezes over the ocean
north OF the thirty-tifth parallel of
latitude. These are variable, but
come largely from the southwest and
west. Such winds, of course, favor
the progress of the Gulf Stream.
The general movement is past New
fOundlaud toward the British Isles.
though a branch reaches out toward
the continent of Europe, flows down
past Portugal and finally joins the
regular westward current that is al
ways observed near the equator.
This part of the stream can then be
traced back to America.
Writing for The Liverpool Journal
OF Commerce" a correspondent who
has evidently been at sea lays stress
on the fact that in its passage it does
not mingle TO any appreciate extent
with the waters through which it
passes.
Its course through the ocean after
leaving the Gulf of Florida until 1t
reaches mid-Atlantic can be distinctly
traced by the eye alone. the waters
of the Gulf Stream being of a deep
indigo blue, almost inclininS to purple
in shadow, while the surrounding
waters are OF light shades of gray,
green and blue-abOut the same DIFF
ference, in fact, as between the OK
ford and Cambridge colors. The diff
ference in the temperature is also
noticeable. being often as much as
30 degrees.
In its passage across the Atlantic
it gradually widens and loses some OF
its speed and it's heat, but its ire
sstible flow is continuous The best
illustration of this is to be found
southeast of the banks OF Newfound-
land. In this locality the Gulf
Stream, steadily flowing through the
surrounding ocean in an east-north-
east direction, is crossed by the polar
current coming down the Labrador
coast, so that there are three differ
ent strata of water all flowing in diff
ferent directions, never mixing or
impeding each others progress.
Strangely enough, the ice cold polar
current is on top, the warm Gulf
Stream next and the cold general wa
ters of the Atlantic at the bottom.
But although the flow Of this great
ocean river is continuous il varies in
volume, in force and in temperature.
Speaking only Of the portions travers-
ing the Atlantic between the Gulf OF
Florida and our own shores, this vari-
alton follows regular lines or seasons.
The Gulf Stream reaches its most
northerly limit, its greatest force and
volume and its maximum temperature
i'm September, when the suns vertical
rays have been falling on the North
Atlantic for six months. and is least
in force and volume and reaches it's
minimum temperature I'm April Dur
| ing the spring months, when the ice
breaks up I'm the Arctic regions, the
increased polar current caused by
the melting of the ice infringing on
the northern edge of the weakened
Gulf Stream helps considerably in
pushing the stream bodily further
south. At the same time there is set
up great counter current, which
! when assisted with continuance Oi
strong northeast winds, drives the
Gulf Stream further and further off
| the coast until It happens. as In the
case Of FL Alba, who found not the
/ Gulf Stream flowing backward. but
| the counter current, which had for
| the time driven the Gulf Stream out
side the track ne had followed for
years without experiencing the same
| phenomenon. There is no doubt that
IL Captain Quick hA1 taken the tenn
perature of The sea he would have
found, instead a about 60 degrees
| the warmer water Of tho Gulf Stream
only, sag a. or 50 degrees, common ia
the counter current In this locality
From the examination Of some gteam
er5' logs that were crossing The ~
lantic at that time have asccrtaiUe1
that they experienced the Guif Stream
setting In it, normal direction at 2
force OF 10 to Q knots which prove.
Concluslvely that the Gulf Stream &.
flowing with its usual regularity al
! this season. when it Is subject q
! variations from causes above stated.