a30 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. MAY, 1904
Average drift from-
autumnal months, 8s shown by the following table of percentages, based
on observations at Kempshot Observatory.
Relative number of cases.
cirriis. 2:;;.
- -
North ...................... Northeast ................... East ........................ Soit theast. ................... Sooth ....................... Southwest .................. West ....................... Northwest.. .................
~
7 9
36 35 36 57
6 18 4 fi
7 fi
13 5
7 4
1On 100 -__-
This table shows that the highest wind from the west ancl
northwest occurred less frequently than that from the’ nortli-
east and east, or, in other words, that in about 27 per cent of
cases the east and northeast currents reached from the lower
clouds up to the highest cirrus and cloiibtless beyond. but
probably the westerly wind prevailed above that, even during
the autumnal months.
The existence of this still higher current froiii the west has been con-
firmed at times by the drift of long continuing trails of shooting stars
and by the drift of dust from volcanoes in eruption.
Maxwell Hall adds :
With regard to the strato-cirrus. Nr. Hall says:
When rain begins to fall from a large cumulus, a quantit) of clnnd is
poured into the air from the top of the cumulus, as smoke froin a fdctory
chimney. This takes place in all paits of the morld when ram falls troll1
cumuli, but in tlie temperate zones only a little cirriforiii clouil is tliro\\n
off. In ,Jamaica the process is on a gigantic wale, ani1 the cloucl is
spread out as a sheet far and wide, so as to sliade tlie miid far scinie
hours froin the direct rays of the afternoon s u n I t ih therefore a o)ni-
nion clond in the west-central district of Jamaica during the iuininer and
autumn months. Its texture a t firht is thick and woolly, Iiut as i t hlirracls
the hheet becomes thinner. It then
different forms, ancl finally clisappea
clear.
Now, by means of a sextant. some careful obwr~ations werr made o f
the altitude of the tops o f well-foriiied cuniuli whose distances cvulil lie
ascei-tainrd by their rain falling on mountain iangr5 or 119 the a\erage
interval between the thiinder and liglituing; and it was found that tlir
average height o f zu1.h well-formed rumuli mas ab niucli a> 6 niile+. At
low zero, ancl strato-ciri us, m lien
+’ I rry fin** snain, as tli+tiuguisliril
1iii.h foriii eirriis m i 1 c.irrt)-stratnr.
This flue snow then f d r slowly 1 onii weiqlit, itiid, iwlting, it oftrn
produce5 thase quiet after-rains that follow the hvaI y rains nncl wlualls
of the cuniulus.
From what has been haicl almut tlir q m w h g out of this ckiucl, i t
niiglit be supposed that it had 110 airrage drift; litit if \\rIl-f~~riii~il CII-
muli at considerable distances be watched it will I J ~ fouiirl that, while
their average drift is from tlir= boutheitst over the wPstern h,df of Jamaica,
the drift of the stratn-cirru+ issuing froin them is generally northeast.
(From northeast?-ED.).
ttlps don n, often pa
leaiing tlir evening
With regard to the origin of hurricanes, RIr. Hall s a p :
If we look at the pilot charts piihlished each niniith Iij tlir IT. S Hy- drographic Office, we +hall her that when the region of equatorial heavy
rains between South Ame1ic.a and Africa reaches as far nortli its latitiidr
faither in September and October, l i u t withdraws far to tlie
August, September, and October are the month5 111 1% liicli cycloiiri u<u-
ally occur in the West Indies. Of cour~e they may cwcui at other places
and at other time2 if all the essentials are p
THE CURIOUS WORK OF THE WIND.
In the earlier years of the Weather Bureau it was not un-
common for an observer to send to tlie C’entral Ofice, for exhi-
bition in its museum, ’some tree trunk studded with strews
driven into it by a tornado wind, or twisted into shreds by the
action of the mind, or split open by lightning. Lately we
have received from Professor Mcbdie a most instructive illus-
tration of wind work, namely, a Weather Bureau storm-marn-
ing dag that had been exposed a t the Weather Bureau office,
Southeast Farallon Island, Gal., during a recent high wind.
Not only is this flag torn into shreds, b u t the shreds were so
interlaced and knotted together as to preserve in permanent
form many of the intricate movements of the wind as it whirled
pant the flagstaff. These movements are easily seen when one
matches the fall of snowflakes. The actual path pursued by
a particle of atmosphere is undoubtedly not only very complex,
but much longer than the path registered by any form of ane-
mometer. Therefore, the so-called internal energy of the wind
is decidedly greater than would correspond to the measured
velocity of the wind, just as the internal energy of a vortex
ring is I L ~U C ~ greater than that of its linear movement as a
whole. or just as the internal energy of a warm gas, as com-
puted from its temperature, is much greater than the energy
of the whole mass :is computed from the linear movement of
the mass as a whole.
INSTRUCTION IN METEOROLOGY.
Thro~igli the generosity of an ~n k n o w n citizen, the city of
Chattanooga has been enabled to provide its high school with
a meteorological observatory, ecluippecl n;ith the following
standard instruments: An anemometer with single register, a
barometer and liarometer box, hygrometer, maximum and mini-
muiii theriiionieters, rain ancl snow gage with support, and
stanclarcl thermometer shelter. The instruments mere pre-
sented to the school on condition that meteorology should be
added to its curriculum as an optional study, ancl 20 copies of
a t e s t book c)n meteorology were given by the same person
for the free use of student:. The instruments were selected
1 y RIr. L. RI. Piii(lel1, Observer a t Chattanooga, and installed
under his direction. Twenty-three students formed the first
year’s class. RIr. Pinclell has assisted the teacher by occa-
sional talks to tlie class ancl explanations of the care and use
of the iiistruinents. So f,zr as the Editor knows, this is the
first hir/h hl.hooZ in the country to possess a meteorological lab-
oratory, a laboratory scarcely inferior in educational value to
11 school laboratories of chemistry and physics now
11y recognized as indispensable in connection with
thorough elementary instruction in those subjects.
HUMMING OF TELEGRAPH WIRES AND POLES.
The question is frequently adied: “TT’hat causes the humming
of the t,elegraph wires and poles; what connection has it with
the weather; can it be used for weather forecasting:?” The
telegraph pole merely transmits to the ear the humming of the
wires over lieacl. Its own vibrations are so slow that they make
no audible sound. The wires strung from pole to pole are set
into oscillation by the wind, somewhat as the strings of a violin
are set into vibration by the bow. I n ekilful hands the violin
bon- can be made to bring forth from the string one powerful
fundamental note ancl several overtones of higher pitch but
in perfect harmony with the fundamental. But the mind is a
very unskilful performer, and brings forth a t the same time
not only the deepest fundamental bass note of the wire, but a
great variety of overtones, both harmonious and discordant.
I n fact. tlie many wires strung over head, from pole to pole,
coiistitute splemlicl Zolian harps. The slowest oscillations of
the wires may he seen or felt, but are not audible. The bass
notes and the higher tenor we hear b u t faintly when we stand
midway between two poles. I f the ear is pressed against a
pole we hear more especially those notes to which the wooden
MAY, 1904. MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. 231
pole can most easily respond; sometimes a special note, started
by the wire a t the upper end of the pole, is reinforced by
resonance, and that which is only feeble on the wire becomes
most prominent on the pole. Of course, the stronger the wind
and the more gusty it is, so much the more active will be the
humming of the wire and the pole. I f the wind blows lengtli-
wise of the mire it will bring out a different combination of
notes from those produced by a transverse wind Therefore,
the direction of tlie wind has some influence upon the hum-
ming of the telegraph poles, but the direction of tlie wind
clepends upon the location of the storm center, and is a good
basis for local prediction as to rain. Hence, those who have
studied the huiiiming very closely have frequently declared
that they can tell the weather by the character of tlie liuin-
ming.
According to R clipping from tlie Saturday Budget. Quebec.
Ont., March 12, 1904, a proininent meteorologist in Toronto
has made a series of observations and arrives a t the following
conclusions :
* * * the humming of wires running east and west intalially
presaged afall of teniperature, often ten or more hours inad\auce of the thermometer; the humming of iring noitli and si)uth ail\ isrd rz
rise in teniperature, almost alwaj la1 hours in nilvaiice of thr tlirr-
mometer. Wires running east l l P \ er llunllne~l ta)p?tllel \\ It11
wires running north ani1 bouth, 1% hen the ~:iiiie wire5 i unning
along an east and west btrret turn vn a north and South hialp; uuly
that portion of them hunmird t h e11 a rise or fall in teinpwrztuie.
as explained above.
It seeiiis evident to us that the liuiuming is due entirely to
the action of tlie wind. We see no necessity for assuming tliat
electric currents, either in the air or in tlie nire, or any otlier
niystery iieecl to be considered. Those who invoke electricity
must give some plausible rensoii n 11) the current slioultl oscil-
late with such frequency as to cause the rapid I ilirntions that
must exist in orcler to cause auclible sound.
If one part hui~~inecl tlir other i n i t \\as silent.
NOTE ON THE GREAT METEOR OF SEPTEMBER 15,1902.
Since printing the article by JIr. Mosely on page 172 of the
April REVIEW, lie has received tlie following record from Thomas
Mikesell, voluntary observer a t Wauseon. Ohio, 33 miles weht
of Toledo (in latitude 41” 35’ north, longitude 84” 7’ west),
who says:
Several 1)rrsons aborit Wauseou saw the meteor. though I dit1 not see
My recoril htatrr that at 5:45 a. m., central btauilard tiiiir, I it myself.
looked out of the window and saw a curious streak, like a thin, white
cloud, extendiug from near the east, northward about 40°. It was about
three-fourths of a degree wide, of serpentine form, with R few short kinks.
It continued risible for flfteen or twenty minutes and hardlymoved from
where I flrst haw it, though it changed to an ashy color. I noted the
time a t once on seeing it. I estimated the altitucle at about 2 5 O , per-
haps a little lower a t the north end.
Mr. Mosely adds :
This would seem to show that the trail remained visible a t Wauseon
for nearly an hour ancl a half after the passage of the meteor. The esti-
mate of altitulle is in substantial accord with the conclusions I had
alieady reached.
WEATHER BUREAU MEN AS INSTRUCTORS.
RIr. Edwnrcl L. Wells, Observer, Boise, Idaho, reports that
on ITuue 10 home 30 teachers of the dcla County Teachers’ In-
stitute Iisitecl the local office of the Weather Bureau, and
listened to an informal talk ou the use of the instruments and
the work of the Bureau. The teachers evinced more than a
passing interest in these iuntters, and some of them desired to
study the instruments more in detail in orcler that they might
be better alilt, to instruct their pupils.
011 May 14 he addressed tlie class in phyhical geography
froiii the Boiqe High School on observations and map making
an(1 tlie collection of meteorologicd d:tta.
On June 9. Mr. Wu. G. Burns. Sectiou Director, Springfield,
111.. adilrehsecl an advanced class from the Convers Public
School on the general ticope of Weather Bureau work.
Mr. J. R. Weelis, Observer. lIac*oii, Ch., on June 3 delivered
nu illustrxtecl lecture before 300 students of tlie Georgia-
Alabaiua Busiiiehs C’ollege on the Subject, “ TYeather and
Business.”
hIr. Janies H. Scarr, Obberver, Sacramento, Cal., and Mr. E.
Bonuett, Ashistant Observer, on May 13 lectured to the class
iii physics frcm the city high scli001, which came to the office
in two sectitins. The instruction consistecl o f aii explanation
o f the instruments and weather maps. with some remarks on
the scope and liinitatioiis of weather forecasting. Meinbere
of the class have since frequently visited the ofice f u r fuller
instruction on special poiiits.
THE WEATHER OF THE MONTH.
By hIr. W. B. STOCKMAN, District Forecaster, iu clinryr of Division of hleteorolngicnl Recm‘rls.
PRESSURE.
The distribntion of mean atmospheric pressure is graphically
shown on Chart VI11 and tlie aTerage values and departures
from normal are shown in Taliles I and VI.
The mean pressure for Rfnj-, 1904, was highest, with readings
of about 30.10 inches, on the north Pacific coast, with a sec-
ondary area of somewhat lower pressuie over the miclclle At-
lantic and New England coasts. It \vas lowest over tlie south-
ern Platenu region, with minimum readings of 29.75 inches in
southern Arizona.
The mean pressure was above the nor~nal in New England,
the eastern portion of the Miclclle Atlantic States, eastern
Texas, Missouri Valley, micldle and northern slope, northern
Plateau, and north Pacific regions, and slightly below norinnl
in the remaining districts. The greatest plus clepartiires were
.10 inch in the northwestern 1)ortion of the north Pacific re-
gion, ancl the maximum ininus departures occurred on the
southern coast of and in the interior of California and raiigecl
from -.05 to -.09 inch.
The mean pressure for the month increased over that of
April, 1904, in the north Pacific region, New England, and the
eastern portion of the Middle iltlantic States, and diminished
in the remaining districts.
31-4
The increase in New England and the eastern portion of the
Middle Atlantic Stateb was slight, wliile in the north Pacific
region it raiigecl from +.OS to +.ll inch. Over the greater
portion. of the area where there was a decrease the changes
were quite marked, ranging from -.15 to -.20 inch, in the
north-central section of the United States.
TEMPERATURE OF THE AIR.
The distribution of maiiinum, minimum, and average surface
teiuperatures is graphically shown by the lines on Chart V.
The mean temperature of the month was below normal in
the Southern States, except the eastern portions of Virginia,
North Carolina and Kentucky, and central Florida, in Kansas,
eastern and northern C’oloratdo, Utah, Wyoming, eastern Mon-
tana. n estern North Dakota, northeastern Oregon, Washington,
and on the south-central coast of California; and above nor-
mal in the remaining districts.
I n northern and central California, south-cenhl Arizona, the
eastern parts of tlie Dakotas, northern lower Michigan, south-
eastern Wisconsin, New Eugland. New Tork, eastern Pennsyl-
vnnia, and iiortliern and central New Jersey the changes were
from +3.0” to soinewhat more than +4.0°. The minus de-
ptrtnres were not so large.