The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-12-04

lie Danois Disputes Berget's Theory
and Says Talk About Gulf Stream
Heating Europe Is All Nonsense,
Anyway-Bergets Belief and Fears
Regarding Gulf Stream Based on
Long, Tedious Study Of Ocean Cur
rents During the War.
Prof. A. Berget, Europes we'll
known scientist, persists in his claim
that the American railroad now clos
ing the Florida Keys is liable, unwit-
tingly, to shut off Europe's central
heating systematic Gulf stream.
Berget's theory has divided the
camp of European oceanOgraphlc au-
thorities, who are arguing pro and
con. Berget forecasts diplomatic com
plications il the American road con-
tinues Its geographical meddling.
Now comes the equally noted French
scientist, LIE Danois, who says talk
about the Gulf stream heating Europe
is all nonsense, anyway. He has pre-
sented a long document to the Acad-
envy of Sciences in Paris by which he
claims to prove that the Gulf stream,
as generally considered, Is myth SO
far as Europe is concerned.
That local little American current
the Gulf stream, he says, may run as
far as Bermuda, but not further All
others who have believed in a stream
of hot water from American heating
the shores of Europe have been mis-
taken. "a collective error" he calls 1t.
His explanation of the warm waters
flowing along the coast of France
conclusions easy to reach without even
leaving Paris-is that the summer
heat dilates the salty equatorial wa
tiers, causing them to flow into the less
salty waters of the north all OF which
has nothing to do with America or the
Gulf stream, since the equator is con-
veniently near Europe, being directly
south of Senegal
Bases Belief on Long Study.
Professor Berget's belief in the
Gulf stream. and consequent fears of
IA glacial Europe if anyone tampers
with it. is founded on q long, tedious
study of ocean currents when he was
the prince of Monacos right-hand
man during the war. They crulsed
all over the Atlantic, watching the
drift Of tanks and bottles in order to
discover the possible routes of floating
mines. He is now one of the worlds
greatest authorities on water currents
Of all kinds.
While Berget maintains his opinion
that connecting up the Florida Keys
Is certain to have a dangerous erect
on European climate, he also believes
that Europe Is doomed to a new
glacial period, changing the fertile
grain fields into fields of deep ice, in
10000 years, and coral will have built
solid barrier from Cuba to Florida.
Some scientists refuse to look so far
ahead and claim that If such a disas
trous change were to occur it would
take place gradually and most Euro
peans would emigrate to America or
other warmer shores, while those re-
naming would adapt themselves to an
Eskimo existence. II the railroad
company would wait until then, they
would be able to run their lines right
over to Havana without any trouble
and nobody would accuse them Of
spelling the winter season along the
French Riviera.
Until lie Danois proves cOnclusively
to the contrary, the Gulf stream gets
it's impetus and warmth from the
equatorial current, which Is a steady
flow OF water from Africa to South
America, caused by the rotation Of the
earth This current splits on the
wedge shaped part of Brazil near Per
and one part turns south,
forming q big circle while the other
[art rushes up TO the north coast Of
South America and filters through the
Antilles into the Gulf Of Mexico. The
gulf Is just the right shape to throw
and send 1t shooting into the Atlantic
ocean on its way to Europe and the
Arctic ocean north of Norway. The
Labrador current Is simply tail end
# the stream finding Its way back in
, chilled condition after a long trip |
llong the glacial shores of the north. |
Might Change Flow.
ANY little obstruction in the Florida |
pout of the Gulf stream, it is claimed,
would be sufficient to change the d.
ection Of the flow. 1t is doubtful II
nyone could forecast the new direc-
ion Of such powerful force. But II
he Florida spout were TO be complete
v blocked, which seems to be the aim
# the coral insect, then the steady
low would necessarily seek a new
curse with revolutionary results.
With the outlet gone the stream
rould no longer filter through the An
lilies but take an outside northern
curse eventually striking the Allan
Ic coast Of Florida and run straight
% the coast to Newfoundland, turning
lew England and Nova Scotia into
almy, semi-tropicsl winter resorts.
wen Greenland and Iceland would
haw out and turn into prosperous ag-
lcultural countries with thriving in
ustrial centers. The return current
ftsr visiting Sritzbergen and the re-