Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-06-06
THIS WEATHER A PUZZLE.
Weather Experts Have stopped Gucs.-
ing what II VIII nc.

Washington, Juno 4.--t'nclc Sans
weather experts are mp In the air over
present climatic conditions. They do
not know tho direct cause of the cold
spell in April and May which threatens
To continue unintorruptedly throughout
the summer, but they arc fully advised
MS to the immediate prOvocation for
the temperature that promises TO put
the summer resorts out of business and
inf'ict irreparahle damage on the crops
Of the land. It was and is due to an
abnormal distribution Of barometric
pressure and nothing else.
What about the report that the
spell was caused by the globe being
jolted out of It's course?" one OF the
weather experts was asked to-day.
FOOLISH" he replied
How about conditions in the moon
or the other planets they had
anything to do with it?"
NO" Numbered the expert. one ovc
! taking I'm barometer near by and the
other resting on the lowering clouds
/ To toll the TRUTH young man. were
ne bhergast cd--clean fahhergasted-
and the worst Of it all is" he continued
i'm a voice chotod with emotion I'VE
B
thousands Of idiots throughout the
country"
Now TT toll YOU the direct cause of
the abnormal weather of May and
April" he said. "but what's behind it we
don't know. Nobody knows. rs just one
Of tn" problems Of meteorology that we
are row trying to solve The abnormal
weather in May and April vas duo. ae
! said to the distribution Of harome rio
| pressure During these two months tho
pressure has been unusually h'gh In tho
northern attitudes and unusually low
in southern ATTITUDES. Nh" natural result
was an abnormal or unequal distribution
of pressure, causing Az inflow of the
northern aud colder winds from tho
North 10 the South. The pressure always
flows from til" high toward tho low; and
| in this case The barometer being low in
the South and high in tho North we thus
account for the unusual prevalence Of
cold winds in the South Don't ask
what caused the high pressure In the
North, for I don't know. We are study
ing the distribution of pressure over the
entire hemisphere. and when We find out
about it YOU will be advised.
"A good many people think that solar
/
! cent brand OF weather. We have records
of solar conditions for tho past 30 or co
! years. They We're taken after very elaho-
! rate and painstakinE comparisons made
| with terrestrial weather conditions. The
! results hav" been negative largely. They
! teach Ms nothing that Eliminates the pres
ent day climatic puzzle. Among other
things = is recognized that the moon has
a slight effect upon bsrometical pressure
| II is too slight, however. to effect any
| changes In the weather. A great many
| people know that the changes Of seasons
! are due to Astronomical causes, and Of
| course they Jump To the conclusion THAI
! the explanation Of tho present do1 blasted
| weather Is simple. We're up against Il
! good and hard. and when asked to tell
| all about present conditions and reply
that We can't do so people want to know
! why IN blazes Uncle Sam Is paying a
| million dollars a year to maintain a
| weather bureau.
The attention of the weather man was
| directed 10 the fact that II was cold and
/ Wet last week, that = was cold to-day and
! that 4 might NJ cold next week or con-
tinue unsca souahle throughout the year.
you know what has happened" he
! said. AS to what IL In store for Us
make no predictions. We might have
said in the middle Of May that the col
spell would not continue another week.
but We didn't. and We are not prepared
to make any guesses as to how long pres
| en- conditions will continue"