The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-14
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING.
Peculiarities of Storms Deduced From
Studies by Weather Bureau.

PecuI1arftleS OF Storms DeduCed From
Studies by Weather Bureau.
Owing to the long experience and
the observations of many generations
the people of the thunder and light
ming sections of the United States have
come to know something about the
habits, idiosyncrasies and bad man
ners of electrical storms. There has
Deen no SyStematization OF thes store
of knowledge by learned professors,
for it has been handed down from
generation to generation mainly as
FAMILY lore. Every farmers boy in
early life is taught not to stand under
a tree during a thunder storm, and it,
Is, or used to be, part of his education
that lightning has special fondness
for cattle. Lately, however, the
United States weather bureau has
been studying the phenomena of these
storms in all parts of the country, and
the bureaus opportunities for collect
ing data on the subject are surely I'M
surpassed. Its studies have already
enabled it to reach many Interesting
conlusions, among them being ample
confirmation of certain beliefs long
held regarding the tricks and habits
of chain lightning.
AS to the localities visited most Of
ten by storms, the Bureaus data are
fresh and evidently accurate. The
champion thunder storm belt of the
United States is a region embracing all
of Florida, except it's southern tip, the
lower part of Georgia and the south
western corner of Alabama; and 1t av-
erageS 45 storms a year. Forty storms
year is the average for the next most
exposed regfon-the more northern
parts of Georgia and Alabama. Com
ing along with an average of 35 a year
is a belt still more to the north of the
belt last mentioned, taking in Tennes
see, corners of Kentucky and Illinois,
* ALL
sippi, louisiana and the eastern part of
Texas. Another belt of equal intensity
runs through central Illinois and the
contiguous parts of Indiana Iowa and
Missouri. From the Virginia capes to
Connecticut is a region having av-
etage of 25 storms a year, while re-
gion of which Boston Is the center has
only 20. The frequency of these storms
dirninishes west of the Tooth meridian
of longitude until the Rocky Mountains
are reached, and on the Pacific slope
they are almost never experienced.
From this it may be seen that the lower
extent that New England is, a fact that
should nerhaps convince New England
ers that their blessings are not to be
despised.
Yet the weather bureau has a sur
prising exhibit in another fact. AL
though New England has about half
as many thunder storms as the lower
south, our mortality rate, as the result
of lightning striking" is as high as
that reported anywhere in the country.
Five deaths a year for each 10000
square miles is the record for the zone
mbracing southern Vermont. Massa-
chusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut,
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Indiana, Virginia
and eastern Illinois. But this excess Of
deaths must be due, on the other hand.
to the much greater density of popula-
ton per square mile in the north and
east, compared with the south, where
the mortality averages as low as from
one to three fatalities for each 10000
square miles.
The weather bureau experts have
made sure that people outdoors are
four times more liable to be struck
by lightning than those indoors. More
than twice as many cattle as SheSp
are struck, more sheep than horses,
than mules. Inasmuch as animals OF
all kinds are more likely to be hit
when grouped together, the great NOR
tality among cattle can be explained,
however, have the same propensity.
Men in groups are more liable to be
struck than when they are alone; and
It is pointed out that more than half
would recover if efforts were
made upon them to induce respiration, |
rs in cases of drowning.
The established fact that more than |
ire struck while standing under trees |
confirms, of course, the common OBJ |
servation OF mankind. So, too. the |
bureau supports traditional beliefs in |
showing that the most dangerous class
IF buildings, from this point of view,
S barns and sheds. Wooden roofs are
struck oftener than slate, but this
statement may be vitiated by the fact
hat slate roofs are much rarer than |
wooden roofs. The old habit of avoid
ng chimneys and f1replaces during
torn is well founded, but the gov
,rnpent weather sharps are not in
,1ined to believe that lightning is
much g ttracted by small articles of
teel, such as pocket knives. keys and
scissors.
Ne have to e., 70 Germany to learn |
rom the German forestry bureau
hat the oak suffers more frequently
han any other tree and that next in
rider of risk come the fir, beech, |
zine. ash and birch Prof Pickering,
II Harvard, the astronomer, con-
dudes from data collected by him
hat the liability of thunder storms
anywhere is greatest between new
noon and first quarter and least be-
ween full moon and last quarter In
Inherent localities local conditions Of
en- affect storms. not only by giving
hem greater or less intensity, but also
w changing their course. 1t is
for example, that the
ides OF Delaware Bay reflect the
one way or another.
IN incoming flood tide usually car
les a storm northward; an outgoingt
BIB tide carries it southwark; and