Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-26
WEATHER EXPERTS
BADLY PUZZLED
THE SAVANTS AT MT. WEATHER
OBSERVATORY ARE TRYING
. EXPLAIN THIS SUMNIERY
WINTER.

At Mt Weather observatory. noar
Washington, the savants OF the weather
bureau are at work on the theory that a
change in the amount of the suns heat is
responsible for the summer winter in
which the whole south is basEing. 1t has
for some time been the theory Of the
weather bureau that there is continual
change in the amount of heat from the
sum- which is directly accountable for
changes in the seasons.
One winter is warm, another is cold.
Why?
A variation in the suns heat now an
increase, now diminution, is given as
the explanation. No proof of this fact,
however, has yet been obtained, owing to
the fact that the change is so slight
and is so affected by atmospheric inflU-
ences that no instrument has been found
that will record it.
Scientists Are Busy
At Mt. Weather scientists are busy at
work trying to prove this fact. 1t would
explain why this winter has been so
warm; why. indeed. every winter isn't
like every other winter, and would be
the first step towards the discovery OF
laws by which the weather bureau would
be able to predict with accuracy seasons
in advance.
The superficial reason for the abnormal
ly warm weather that has prevailed SO
far this winter throughout the south, has
been lack of areas of low barometric
pressure off the gulf coast.
Cold weather In the south can be caused
only by an area of low barometric pressure
forming off the gulf coast and drawing
the cold northern blasts southwark Just
as water runs down hill, current or air
sets from an area of high pressure II
one of low pressure. If then this area
of low pressure forms off the gulf coast
and there be an area of high pressure in
the north or west, there will be current
flowing from the high to the low and
cold weather will result. But, while
there has been an abundance of high
pressure areas in the north there have
been no low pressure areas in the south.
The weather bureau cannot explain, this
fact unless it be that a change in the
suns heat is at the bottom of 1t.
Is There a Constant Change?
About a year ago the observatory was
established at Mt. Weather for the pur-
pose of meteorological investigation, but
practically the complete efforts of the
force at the observatory are now Being
turned towards an endeavor to prove
that there is a constant change in the
heat from the sun. If this can be proved,
II can shortly be ascertained what laws
govern this change and at not far
distant date, knowing just when and how
this change will occur, 1t will be possible
to predict accurately what Will be the
amount of heat and cold during coming
season.
The present peculiar winter has acted
as a strong stimulus to the efforts of
the investigators.
Saturday the wind was soft like
summers day. Jonquils are begin
ming to bloom in the front yards and
the buds of peach trees to swell.
So far the winter has not been
record breaking in its continued high
temperatures, but IL has been very alb
normal. The mean temperature FOR De-
cember was As degrees. The normal is
As degrees. The mean for January has
so far been As degrees. The normal for
January is AZ degrees. Only twice
since November has the temperature
gone below freezing point, and In those
two instances 1T only reached as low
as 30 degrees. The lowest temperature
reached was in the fall in November.
The minimum then was but ~ degrees.
In January Atlanta has experienced
zero weather. January IL, 1885, the
temperature dropped to degrees below
zero; January 6, 1884, to / degree below
zero.
Not Unprecedented
January has also gone to the other
extreme In 1890 1t had a mean tent
perature of 500 degrees, and in 1880
temperature of SAL degrees. These
two instances quash this months
chances of record breaking. But de-
spite the fact that the heat is not UNI
precedented, 1t is decidedly abnormal.
1t is Forecaster Won Herrmann's opin-
ion that the warm weather will con-
tinue through February. Records at
the weather bureau show that warm
January is invariably followed by
warm February. He is confident there
will be no prolonged cold spells in Feb
ruary. He gives as his reason the fact
that warm weather in January such as
has been had stores so much heat in
the ground that a continuation of cold
weather Immediately afterward would
be almost impossible. 1t is certain tha'
the rest of January will be unusually
warm. Before a spell OF cold weather
in the south could occur areas of high
barometers must form in the north, and
there is an unusual lack of high baro-
metric pressure in the north now.