The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-05-31
Making Of tsaIIstones.

q III one would know now nallStOnoa
is formed he must first dissect it. He
/ will fnd that 1t is composed Of q
quantity of tiny crystals arranged in
concentric rings or zones, and each
gone in turn will have its evidence
to give concerning the making Of the
hailstone on its way to the earth.
An atom Of dust is the nucleus OF
each Maidstone. The atoms of dust per-
wade every part of the atmosphere
and are found not only in the lower
strata of the air, but the winds carry
them to the tops of the highest noun
tains So that, no matter whether sam
pies of air are obtained by balloonists
or mountain climbers, minute parti-
cles of dust are always to be found
in them. 1t is coming to be believed
that without these atoms of dust upon
which the moisture of the air can set
tie there would be no raindrops, no
fog, no snow, dew, clouds or hail.
Without these minute platforms, as
they are called, upon which the mo1s-
ture condenses as it alights, rain
would be continually pouring down
upon the earth. These notes keep the
atmosphere buoyed up till such times
as circumstances compel them TO yield
up the supplies they have collected. Ii
a little vapor should happen to con-
dense on particle of dusty floating
aimlessly about in the air there is
the beginning of what, under favor
able circumstances, will become full
sized hailstone.
The hailstones to attain great size
must plunge to the earth from great
height. The clouds which float at
the greatest distance from the earth
are those known as the cirrus, and are
often many miles above the tops OF
the highest mountains. If the begin
ming of hailstorm can only dive to
the earth from this height it will, in
it's headlong flight. pass through strata
of air differing very much as regards
temperature and moisture, and these
are circumstances most favorable to
it's development But before it can
begin its descent it must find some
way of being carried up to these
heights. So the journey is made by
getting into the way Of one of the
strong ascensional currents which
spring upward from almost every part
of the earth's surface.
In such place it is not long be-
fore the moisture on the atom of dust
freezes The form which the frozen
moisture takes depends upon circum-
stances, but there are many POSSIBLE
tiles before it. 1t may crystalline as
tiny pellet of snow, or may take
the shape of an ice crystal or simply
the form of a frozen crystal or tire
form of frozen raindrop Any OF
these shapes will serve as an excel
lent beginning for further change
1t is easily understood nat ire
force of gravitatien has been ,...a-
stantly pulling this atom OF dust and
its CONCEALED moisture toward the
Z ground AS it starts on its journey
back to the earth If will pass through
strata of air which differ greatly in
moisture and temperature. Some o.
the air will be ABOVE the freezing point
and other layers will be below it, while
It will be no uncommon thing tci
the hailstone to dash through c.ora
scme thousands OF feet fhiGk. The
hailstone itself with It's heart OF ice.
is always below the freezing point
SO that any moisture which settles
upon it is promptly frozen and forms
a girdle of ice about the nucleus
When the hailstone passes through
the air that is below the freezing
loint the moisture settles upon it n
the form of clear zone of ice. while
on the other hand, when the air is
ncistened and its moisture is above
the freezing point the girdle of ice IS
opaque.