606 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. NOVEMBER, 1921
“Indian summer.” Prof. Charles F. Marvin, Chief of the Weather Bureau, has recently investigated this uestion b making a study of the tem erature records
United States, supplemented by 45-year records from Weather Bureau stations scattered over the countr~.~’I The conclusion reached is that the annual record of daily mean temperatures is a smooth curve, without secondary maxima or minima, or of perceptible points of inflection. Such marked irregularities as are described by the terms ‘‘January thaw” or “May freeze,” neither persist, nor do they have a real existence. In cases where these or similar irregularities appear in the means, thep are the effect of a single occurrence, or of a few accidentally
?or severay long-period stations in t % e northeastern
recurrent unusual or extreme events, near or a t the time in question. A stud of the long-period temperature
1905, was mado by the late Waldo E. Forbes.” The object of this investigation was to discover evidence for or against the occurrence of a cold spell in New England about May 10 (“Ice Saints”). It a pears that cold weather as well as hot may be expecte B on May 10, and hot weather as well as cold on May 7 or May 13. “It is
nevertheless possible that when the pulsations of the weather are better understood, May 10 may prove to be a sort of node and may serve as a point of departure for the study of weather waves. ”jB
record s keptat New 5 edford, Mass., between 1813 and
ON THE DEPRESSIONS OBSERVED IN THE VALUES OF SOLAR RADIATION INTENSITY.
By LAIJJSLAS GO~CZY~SKI.
[Translated by W. W. Reed, from Bolktino Bimrnsucllt, Soc. Het’l. Ital., Apr.-June, 1921, pp. 25-28.1
While very warm or rainy suminers and very mild or cold winters come directly to general notice, de ressions, and in general all the abnornial varintions in t i e values of the intensit of solar radiation measured a t the surface of the earth, B o not manifest themselves immediately to the eyes of observers and require a scientific demonstra- tion by special instruments known as pyrheliometers and actinometers. Yet the study of these de ressions, or rather of all the
observed a t the surface of the earth, has an importance variations that appear in t P ie values of solar radiation
interruption since the close of 1900.
It is important to add that these depressions observed at Warsaw have been discovered in the series of measure- ments made a t other observatories in Europe and in America;l these depressions have consequently a world- wide character. To establish the existence of these depressions in the values of solar radiation observed a t Warsaw let us take the monthly maxima (Max. Q) of the intensity of solar radiation. Granted that radiation is subjected in the earth’s atmos here to influences that alwa 8 tend to
especially the maximum values in the diurnal and annual periods that are the most characteristic. Besides the conclusions reached by examination of the monthly maxi- mum values of radiation are confirmed by the considera- tion of the monthly mean values a i d also by the obser-
diminish it, t fl e conclusion is easily reache c9 that it is
57Charlea F Marvin: Are there Persistent Irr larities in the Annual March of TempeaatnreT‘Mo WEATHER REV 1919 47: 544-!?%. The same number of the RE. VIEW slso cont& 8 useful annotad biblibgraphg of this aubjat (pp. 555-.505), by C. F. Talman.
I See KimbaU Herbert H.: V o l d c eruptions and solar radlation intenslties. Mn.
WEATHER REV.: Aug. 1918 4b:a55-a58.
vntion of the duration of insolation (in hours) and by the calculation of the totals of insolation (in kg. cal.) to one sci. cm. of the norinal horizontal surface. Being unable, in the present pa. er, to enter into the
observations and calculations are found in the following publications by the author:
1. V a h n pyrh6Iinm6triques et lea sommw d’insolation h Varpovie pendant lo, phriode 1901-1915. Wamaw, 1914. (Publications de la Bnriitl dm Sripiwes dc F’nrsoirir.)
2. Sur l e d depressions en 1812 et 1903 dam les valeura de l’intaneik5 du rayniinement solaire. Warsaw. 1914. (C‘oinptes Rendue & la
Soriiti df8 Br.ie?iees de T’nrswh.)
In Table 1 are presented the departures of trhe monthly maximum values of solar radiation at Warsaw during the period from 1901 to 1918. The departures (relative to the means for 1901-1913 and 1914-191s) are calculated in gr. cal. per sy. cm. per minute. The departures for the five years, 1914-1918, are given separately because of change in the place of observation in the first half of
1914, when the apparatus (Michelson actinometer and Angstrom pyrheliometer) were transferred from the build- ing of the bushe d’Industrie et d’A culture, situated
Soci6t6 des Sciences of Warsaw, about 2 km. distant from the former. Although, especinlly on account of the smoke of the city, both points of observation are far from favorable for measurements of soltir raditttion, it is of consequence t,o note that the latter pla.ce seems to be the better and gives higher values.
Xom.-The values for 1901-1913 were calculated and published by t.he aubhnr Iloc. tit,.): the values for 1914-1918 were calculated by the observer, E; Bt,ena, hut have not been published.
In the months for which de artures are not given, actinometric niertsurenients cod x not be effected. Table 1 shows immediately that certain periods present depressions. In calculatin the values of max. Q (for m, 1.5 atm. and$ 7 mm.) t E ere is obtained the following
details of the matter, let us note t K a t the results of the
more in the center of the city, to t, r e building of the
a Waldo E. Forbes: Ice Saints, Am. Astron. Okcrualory Hair. Ooll., vol. 83, pt. 1 1917, pp. 53-59.
51 An early discussion of thin sub ect mny be found In C. A Schott: Tablea Distrlbn- ion and Variations of the Atmospheric Temperature In thdUnited1Rtatea h d some, 4djacent Parts of South Amerlca. Smithson. Conh. & KnawI. 277. Weahingtan, D.
C. 1976. pp. 192-191.
NOVEMBER, 1921. MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. SO7
TABLE 1.-Departurea (relative to means) of & monthly -‘mum valwa of the intmn’by (Q) of adar rdution at Wmmw.
Month ....................... ! January. February. March. April. I May June. July. August.
.................... .....................
m (atm.). 3.5 2.5 2. 0 1. s I 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 3 4 5 6 8 9 8
.............. 1.03 1.11 1.19 1.19 1.16 (mm
September. October. November. December.
~~~~
3.0 4.0 4 3 1.5
1
2.0 7 6 1.221 1.13 0. 95 0.80
........................ ........................ ..........................
1801.. -1 13 lwn.. 0 8
1903 -20 -20
1904 .......................... -18 - 13 1905. 1 3 leoa. 7 -6 1907... ........................ - 1 4 1 m .. .; 18oB.. .:. 1910.. ........................ 4 2 1911.. .................................... 6 1912 .......................... 32 1 17 1919.. ........................ -12 -1
......................... .........................
.... .................. .. ...................
.....
.......................... .......................... -6
........................ 1
1914 -20 1915 -15 1916.. 1917.. 1918.. ........................ ........................
Means (19144918).
6 3 10 3 5 12 -11 6 10 -2 -25 -3 -8 - 16 - 14 .... ... - 17 3 -3 7 -9 5 1 0 -7 4 8 1 -a -1 10 19
-1 2 9 0
’ 3 5 5 5 0 1 1 -3 -2 ‘5 1 9 -2
-s -5 4 2 3 6 9 2 -3 3 -4 6 1 ............ 3 0 -4 ............ 12 5 -1 1 0 ............ -2 1 2 ............ -1
-1 12 -5 3 - 19 - 16 -33 -30 -13 -5 -2 -1 -1 5 1 -3
;
14 B 9 11 0 9 12 12
1.21 1.31 1. m 1.34 1.18 1.06
3 -2 -3
8 -6 -1 I 4 1 2 -6 1 0 1 -1 -3 -6 -13 2 -6 -6 -2 -1 ‘0 1 1 12 4
____--
-9 -1 -3 5 3
4 6 -5 5
-6 -5 3 4 -!
1901 ................. 4 1902 ................. - 1 1903 ................. -13 1904 ................. - 3 1905 ................. 3 lgOG ................. 1 1907 ................. 2 1908 ................. 0 1909 ................. 2
July. 1 August.
1910 ................. 1 1911 ................. 7 1912 ................. -6
1913 ................. -3 1914 ................. -a 1915 ................. -1 1916 ................. -2 1917 ................. 1 1918 ................. 3
Augunt. 1912.. .............. 16 September. 1912 ............. 33 October, 1913. .............. 30
This large depression was h e to the eruption of the volcano ICatmai (Alaska) observed on June 6-8, 1912, as has been noted by Mr. H. E€. Kimball in America. Let it. be noted that the famous eruption of the volcmo Kraktttoa gave rise to a depression m intensity of solar radiation as appears froni the series of measurements made at Montpellier (France) during the period 1883-
1900. The curve at Montpellier shows a very deep de- pression (- 12 per cent) in 1885, dthough the depression includes four years, 1883-1886.
Another depression was observed at Montpellier in 1891; wo are ignorant of its cause. The period 1893-1903 seems to be free of depressions, as appears from an examination of actinometric measure- ments a t Montpellier (until 1901) and a t Pavlovsk (with uninterrupted series since 1593).
With reference to Table 1, it is important to note that if for some other months of the penod 1901-1918 thew
December, 1912 .............. 13 January, 1913 ................ 12
Warsaw ( l’oland I.. ................. Dlczedajow (l’odalinr.. ............. l’avlovsk ( Russia I.. ................ Potsdam (Germany) ................ Paris (France). ..................... Washington (United States). .......
-
1911
3j.
1.33
1.33 1.34 1.37 1.25 1.37
1.03 1.01 1.02 1.13 0.98
1.05
-----
23 1.22 0.W 20 24 1.28 I.06t 17 24 1.30 1.00 23 18 1.33 0.97 27 23 1.22 0.95 22
23 1.33 l.M !23
January, 1903 ................ -20 February, 1903 ............... -20
March, 1903 ................. -17
*e ay 1903.. ................. -25 June, 1903 .................. _- 3
, 1903. .................. -21
September, 1903 ............. -11 October, 1903. .............. - 8 November, 1903 ................
January, 190.1.. .............. -18 February, 1904.. ............ .-13
December, 1903.. ...I.. ........
608 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. NOVEMBER, 1921
are found a t Warsaw occasional monthly maxima that
are diminished relative to the means these months are rather scattered. This character is frequent during the winter months when clear days are rare a t Warsaw and changes in max. 62 (la e departures negative or
But if it is necessary to be extremely careful relative to lowered values in winter we can not pass without examination of depressions of even short duration ob- served in summer when, in eneral, the number of clear
enough for actinometric measurements. After the last marked depression of 1912 the years following have been rather normal relative to annual means, as appears from an examination of Table 1.
However, there is noted the depression in the summer of 1916 with the following departures (in hundredths of a gr. cal., calculated at the Central Meteorological Institute of Poland by E. Stenz) :
June ....................... - 3 September .................. 3
July.. .................... - 6 October.. .................. -6 August. ................... -13 November ................... -6
A t first we were dis osed to believe t.hat here there
Warsaw, although the days with sun not veiled were
gositive) become very considera T le, but they are of local c aracter.
days is large enough and t a e conditions are favorable
was a matter of a rat K er local depression observed a t
numerous enough and the sky a peared sufficiently pure. But the fact that the same Bepression was observed simultaneously at Florence and a t Izana (Canary Islands) leads to the conclusion that here there is a matter of a
phenomenon of more eneral character.
made with the angstrom vrheliometer; the measure- ments a t Ixana (lat. 25’ 15 N., long. 16’ 57’ W., eleva- tion 2,100 nieters) made with the Abbot actinometer (silver disk N. 35) have been published under the direc- tion of the Central Meteorological Institute a t Madrid. The depression of the summer of 1916 was followed by atmospheric clistiirbances relative to optics and polar- imetry, as has been demonstrated especiall by Dorno at
not been discovered; it is only admitted that i t was not of volcanic origin. Let us add that this coincidence of in the values of solar radiation and in the olarization does not always manifest itself; it happens that the diminution in the polari- zation of the sky is observed, although the values of intensity of solar radiation do not show parallel changes. In closin this paper, let the attention of observers be
tinuous measurements of the intensity of solar radiation mnde with tested apparatus.
Let us note that 5 t e measurements at Florence are
P-
Davos (Switzerland). The cause of this c T epression has
called to t a e theoretical and practical interest of con-
PROLONGED PLANT ACTIVITY AT GRAND HAVEN, MICH., IN AUTUMN OF 19m.
By H. TULLSON, Meteorologist.
[Weather Bureau, Grand Haven, Mich., Dee. 10,1910.1
rs/. Sa# : 631 ( 774)
Early in November of 1920 it was observed by many persons and commented upon in the newspapers that various wild plants were blooming later than usual in this vicinity. Up to November 10 no severe frosts had oc-
curred, and there had been but three days with mean temperature below that generally necessar for plant
one in November. As a consequence, the foliage of prac- tically all the herbs, shrubs, and trees was still green. Thou h in previous years no systematic record with which
in November to make notes during the rest of the season on the late bloomin of wild plants and the persistence of verdure. Accorgngly, a suitable area was selected, and the vegetation thereon noted at intervals as long as This tract is owned by Dr. Edward !$ofma and embraces about 8 acres of lowland flats in- closed together with some marsh land by Grand River and one of its “ox bows.” The ound selected is com-
gut shrubs and small trees also. The characteristic vege- tation of the adjacent marsh is cat-tail, reed, and wild rice. A cold spell, with mean temperature somewhat below freezing, extended from November 11 to November 16 inclusive; but during this time a blanket of snow covered the ground, &ording protection for the abundant herb- The snow came in advance of the coldest weather; %&-wise it is clear that the activity of practically all the vegetation would have been brought to a close in the second week of November. As it was, the leaves of the trees and shrubs-chokecherr white dogwood, poplar, willow, etc.-were frozen at tEs time.
growth, two of these having occurred late in 6 ctober and
to ma a e comparisons had been kept, it was decided, early
owth continued.
osed of quite fkm soil, upon whic F flourish not only herbs
1 Acknowledgments are due R. T. Darllng&on assistant professor of hotany Michigan Agricultural collage, for determiaing certain pl& the specl6c identlty of wdich wasin questloll.
Beginnin November 17 there was a eriod of ’warmer
temperatures revailed from the 18th to the 21st. On
were observed in bloom, which may safely be cal ed an unusual number despite the fact that no previous records for comparison exist. These plants were the following: Dandelion, mallow, yarrow, white sweet clover, silve cinquefoil (on ad’acent uplands), common chickweex
re B clover, bouncing Bet, goldenrod (SoZ.i&ago
wild strawberry, white campion, beggar ticks (Bidens sp.), daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus), comon ragweed (bear- ing male and female flowers), smartweed (Polygonum persicaria), lamb’s-quarters, and pansy (escaped from cultivation). Of these the first eight were more or less numerous, while only one or a few individual plants or clumps of the others were observed in bloom. A red raspberry bush bearing ripe and well-formed fruit was found. All the yarrows and evening rimroses seen in,
the weight of the snow of mid-November and thus pro- tected; and now also were partially sheltered by long, dried grass. Though from the 25th to the 30th there was but little freezing weather, the mean teniperature of only one day was a.s high as 43O, and there was but little sunshine. The ground was bare. but not frozen. No more evening rimroses, bouncing Bets, goldenrods, silvery cinquefoils, Keggar ticks: daisy fleabane, or lamb’s-quarters were observed in flower after the 25th. On t.he 30th, however, t.he rest, of the Thanksgiving Day list, as well as one plant of she herd’s purse, doubtless overlooked before,
On December 5, 1920, a day with mean tem mature
weather an f the snow disappeared rapi 3 y, while growing
Thanksgiving b ay, November 25,20 species of wild lants
pe pergrass, blin d gentian, common evening
P
bloom on this day were plants that had g een bent over by
were still in g loom.
40°, from one to a few blooming plants of the P ollowing