The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1915-09-02

81 OF the great lakes.
~4 The determining factors
s of climate for any locality
tzNS&I are chiefly latitude and the
relative distribution of land
and water. Other important factors
are the topography of its land surface
and the situation Of the area in ques-
ton with relation to the general
movement of storm centers.
All of Michigan is situated in !ati-
tude that IL conducive to some kind
Of agriculture. and it's comparatively
long days and short nights during the
crop season. are not only conducive to
crop growth, but they reduce to a
minimum late frosts in spring and
early frosts in autumn.
In lower Michigan the longest day
of the year in summer is nearly 15h
hours, while at New Orleans the long
est day of the year is a little more
than ii hours in length. In upper
Michigan the longest day OF the year
is nearly 16 hours. The daylight pro-
notes all vegetable growth, while the
short nights reduce the probability of
frosts and also shorten the period Of
diurnal GOODNESS.
The large bodies of water which
make up the Great Lakes have de-
cided effect in modifying any temper
allure change sweeping from west to
is very apparent In all parts of the
state. In Wisconsin winter tempera-
lures have frequently continued from
ten TO twenty degrees lower during
east, either as excessive heat or in the
form Of excessive cold. This influ-
ence is very marked in the immediate
vicinity of Lake Michigan, although it
periods of extreme cold weather than
in lower Michigan on account of the
warming influence of the great lake
which intervenes between the two. In
spring the influence of all of the Great
Lakes, and particularly that OF Lake
Michigan, is Of untold value in modify
ing the eastward sweep of early hot
waves and late in spring cold waves.
In summer the refreshing southwest
and west winds which prevail are
making the entire Lake Michigan
shore one continuous summer resort.
! The topography of Michigan, except
in the central portions of the upper
peninsula, is not so marked that it ex-
erts q general influence upon its eli
mate. but it has some features that
exert marked local effects. The high
lands of Houghton, Baraga, Marquette.
Iron and Dickinson counties. in the Up
per Peninsula, and the elevated por-
lions of Osceola, Wexford, Missaukee.
Kalkaska and Antrim counties in the
Lower Peninsula are noted for their
great snow depths in winter, because
the moisture-laden westerly winds are
DETECTED upward, and the relatively
colder temperature of the high alti-
tude condenses the moisture. The in
fuence of Lake Superior is such as to
cause early SHOWS in the Upper Pc
ninsula, SO that as a rule the ground
is well protected and frost seldom
gets into the soil in that part of the
state. In the southern part of the
state is not as plentiful or regular,
nor does it come as early in the fall,
and it is usual condition to have the
soil quite heavily frosted during the
late fall and early spring.
AS considered from an agricultural
standpoint, it may be said that agri-
culture in all of it's varied forms may
be carried on with success when the
average yearly precipitation is well
distributed throughout the year, and
equals or exceeds about twenty-five
inches.
The entire state of Michigan has an
annual precipitation that is very
equally distributed throughout the
year, as rule the heaviest occurring
during the spring months when It is
most needed, of approximately thirty
inches. On the other hand, certain
amount of temperature is necessary
for agriculture, and here again the
state is fortunate, because it's crop
season is as a rule long enough to
mature many of the staple food stuffs
and the warmth sufficient to grow
them to maturity.
Temperature.
The mean annual temperature of
the Lower Peninsula is as whole
about 46 degrees, ranging from 40 de-
grees in the extreme southwestern
part to AZ degrees in the extreme
northeasterly portion.
While in the Upper Peninsula the