Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-24

Venus is--on the assumption that the planet
always turns the same face to the SIM
most probably somewhat as illustrated in
Figure Two. the planets surface would be
swept by winds OF hurricane power, flowing
across the term!nator OF the sunlit face from
the dark 10 the sun-illumined hemjsDhera
the marks OF whose thrush might we'll be
disoernble as the fnger-!ike markings even
across the great distance which SEPARATES
venus from our earth when the planet IS
nearest AS this theory does not, however.
ahord any explanation OF the planets other
markings and. moreover. does not aDpear r.
be in other ways sufficiently full, en- alterna
tive one is. therefore, now advanced,
In the first place air rushiny inward IN
central point where the barometric pres.
sure is low would not progress In direct
lines, but would have Il spiral inflow In the
next pace, TO scour the planets surface with
1lnFer-!ikc markings by an thrush OF air
from It's terminator, the force OF the uprush
OF air at the centre OF the sunlit face would
nave 10 be very great indeed for in Venus
we have 10 deal with q globe whose
diameter IS close on 1850 miles, and which
has, in consequence, circumference NJ
about 1900 miles.
Fer the air to rush across the dividing
Inc between the dark and bright hcmjs.
pheres al even forty miles an hour tho I'm.
rush at the centre OF the bright hemisphere
and. what is more. the down-now at the
centre or the dark hemisphere, would have
10 reach The very great velocity Of well over
l.ooo miles per hour no such general high
velocity in air movements has been recorded
OH our own earth, whose atmosphere Is prob.
ably similar TO that OF Venus. Wind ycloci.
ties even in violent hurricanes. which are
cIear!y o que 20 local causes. but seldom ex-
ceed 100 miles per hour.
TO help ia form some conclusions with
regard to The general probable circulation
OF the atmosphere Of Venus a short review
OF conditions regulating the systematic flow
OF air on earth Will perhaps be Of assistance
owing TO the heated condition Of earth's
equatorial regions or from some other
cause, me air Immediately everything them
rises This causes. 10 replace the air thus
u'spacca How Of air cGuatorwartls from.
the direction Of the poles. This flow OF
air the rotation Of the earth on tia axis CON
Ver's into northcagtcriy trade winds north
Oh inc equator and southcasterly trade
winds south OF Il. The heated air rising In
the equatorial regions flows arr thesn
trade winds in directions OF the Poles tn
bcen with, 10 be. owing again TO the earth's
Totat!on, diverted into southwestern winds
north OF the equator and northwesterly ones
south OF it, Both these latter air currents
co not, however, get as far as tho polar
~ running into colder atmosphere and one
having smaller circumference and arc
Drought down to the caIlhS surface in about
latitude 80 degrees TO 40 degrees north and
south, thence to flow back again as surface
currents cquatorwarda. The regular flow OF
air above outlined Is replaced by q region
or variable wind between these attitudes
north or south and the corresponding poles
Something OF the same kind. ii would
appear, very probably takes place on Venus
also, out owing to no great change in tenn
pcThturo being met with until the dividing
iinc between the illuminated and dark hemi.
sphercs Is crossed, and owing to the upper
air currents flowing into regions having an
cVcr.increasing circumference until this
dividing line is crossed. ii is very likely that
thcy 40 not come to the surface or Venus
unt,i girdlng circle n short distance within
inc planets dark hemisphere is reached.
ihc general flow OF ar on the planet being
thuo 1t !G suggested. somewhat as shown In
Figure 3. In which the lengths OF the
arrows indicate decreasing and increasing
Velocities. The directions Of flow would
also probably have g more spiral set than