The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-27
INFLUENCE OF GULF STREAM
Some Scientists Think It the Cause
of Our Mild Winter.
Others say II Has Nothing TO DO with
the WeatheF-COId Waves Have
Had Little show.

Every one knows that this has been a
mild winter but Just what has made il
so is a problem about which the weather
experts are divided. \ few days ago Capt.
Chaplin. of the British steamer Shimosa,
reached the port Of New York after a long
and decidedly foggy voyage from China.
The weather was so remarkably unsea-
sonabIe that Capt. Chaplin took some Oh
servations which revealed the fact. not
noticed as yet by other mariners. that the
Gulf Stream has been undergoing certain
deviations from its normal course which
are Of a sufficiently radical nature. ac-
cording to the theories Of some meteorOI0-
gists. TO account for the extreme climatic
changes which have taken place this win
ter. says the New York Times Thus.
Capt. Chaplin found the stream flowing
very much nearer the Atlantic coast than
it has ever been known TO do in the past.
He also found that 80 had attained a
greater velocity than is usual for il at
this time of year, while the temperature
Of its waters was very much higher than
the normal winter average.
There is no record eff any other observa-
lions bearing out these facts. as noted In
the log Of the Shimosa. either AT the
weather bureau or the photographic Of
nee in New York City. Capt. Chaplin s
theory. however, that the Gulf Stream
has been a main factor in this years pc
cuiar weather is in accord with the be-
lief Of some meteorologists. who claim
that this great ocean current has direct
influence on climate. and it may well be
that further investigation will show that
something has happened this winter TO
alter its course and Increase its warmth
and activity.
Ever since the Gulf Stream was disccv-
cred by Columbus it has been an object
of great interest to scientists and has been
variously explained and described by
them The last authoritative survey that
was made Of ii was conducted by Capt
John r. Pillsbury, of the United States
navy, who, acting under the direction of
the Coast and Geodetic Survey. spent five
years in an elaborate investigation Of the
subject. taking soundings, measurements
temperatures. &C. all along the line Of
the stream Among the conclusions given
in NJ report Capt Pillsbury gives the fol-
lowing, which is certainly in line with
Capt. Chaplin's theory.
THE moisture and varying temperature
of the land depend largely upon the posi-
tons Of these countries in regard to the
ocean and its currents. and It is thought
that when we know the laws of the latter
we will, with the aid of meteorology, be
able to say to the farmers thousands OF
miles distant from the sea, You will have
an abnormal amount of rain during next
summer or The winter viii be cold and
clear and by these predictions they can
plant a crop to suit the circumstances, or
provide an unusual amount of food for
their stock. We will be able to say to the
marine, At such time the current will be
so much an hour in such a direction, and
the percentage of error will be trifiing ="
Thus Capt. PillsbuTy, after his long
study of this famous ocean current, sees
in it a cause for variations in the weather,
and cherishes the hope that a greater
familiarity with its movements will fur
nish the means Of making accurate
weather predictions.
The majority Of meteorologists, how
ever, refuse TO see in the Gulf Stream a
cause for any of the changes in weather
at any time along the American coast Of
the Atlantic. L. H Emery, the head of
the local weather bureau, in expressing
his opinion on the subject. stated II as his
belief that the weather would have been
just the same this winter if there had been
no Gulf Stream in existence. Neither does
Mr. Emery admit that this winter has
been an exceptionally mild one.
AS explained by the meteorological of
the weather bureau, therefore, It IS not
the Gulf Stream which can be held ac-
countable for this months weather, but
certain relative positions of storms and
cold areas existing this season on the
American continent. According 20 this
authority the atmosphere this year has
not been as active as It usually is in jan
uary. The storms have been slow in their
movements, and on account of this have
retarded the cold waves and dissipated
them