DECEMBER, 1896. MONTELY WEATHEB REVIEW. 463
Nantucket ...................................................... NewTork ....................................................... Philadelphla .............................. ._.. ................ Atlantic City ..................................................
the assistance of other forces arising from the motion of the
air and the rotation of the earth) the horizontal differences
of pressure arising therefrom are the active forces, as I,
among others, have explaiued in the Austrian Z. 0. G. M., 1852, p. 91, where (in the foot-note) I have warned agaiust
the too frequent overestiniation of the influence of the warin-
ing of the air a t the base.
“We have thus come to the limit wheie the geographical
element is less important than the physical ; where cliniatol-
ogy passes over into meteorology. Of course, however, cli-
matology is in the highest degree interested in the progress of meteorology since the connection between its individual
isolated facts is in great part to be expected from it. Espe-
cially is it true that the explauation of the nature and devel-
opment of atmospheric whirls or, the regions of high and low
pressure, their changes with altitude, their origin and disap-
pearance, will be of the greatest importance for cliiiiatology
as well a8 for meteorology. Our knowledge of the movement
of whirls has made good progress, but as to their changes in
intensity we know nothing except some isolated empirical
rules and many vague assumptions. I n order to make fur-
ther advance in this matter we need, above all, a more accu-
rate insight into the distribution of temperature and pressure
in the higher strata above cyclones and anticyclones. About
five years ago Hann published the sensational discovery that
in the Alpine region in anticyclones, notwithstanding the
great cold at the surface of the soil, the mean temperature of
the column of air between this ground and the level of 3,100
meters above the sea, was higher in the centre of anticyclones
than in cyclones. A further extension of this jnvestigation
to other portions of the world promises further important
conclusions. In such work ohwrvation and study niust go together in order to further the advancement of- ecience. ”
FOG IN NEW YORK HARBOR.
Owing to the clear sky that prevails within areas of high
pressure the radiation of heat from the ground or the ocean
surface and from the lowest stratum of air, proceeds more
rapidly and, as is well known, during such periods mist and
fog are formed in the lower air. Radiation proceeds uniiiter-
ruptedly during the night time from the upper surface of
foggy air and the depth of the layer of fog steadily increases,
so that oftentimes the heat of the sun, in the middle of the day, is not sufficient to dissipate the fog formed a t night. It
has often been remarked that the lookout at, or above, the
maiu top overlooks the ocean of fog. In general, a dense fog
implies clear sky above it and by attention to the movenient
of areas of pressure it becomes possible to predict fog on our
coast.
On Tuesday, December 17, and Wednesday 15, high pres-
sure prevailed off the middle Atlantic Coast with north- east winds shifting to southwest a t New York, N. Y. During
Tuesday night and the greater part of Wednesday dense fog
prevailed in both the upper and lower bay ; the Sound steam-
ers did not attempt to come through Hell Gate ; the ocean steamers were detained below quarantine ; nothing could be
seen at Sandy Hook and all movements were guided by the
sound of the fog signals. This fog was attributed by some to
the unseasonably warm weather prevailing all along the neigh- boring coasts. The extreme temperatures were as follows :
----
0 0 0 0
88 86 88 50
26 42 24 18 I 44 34 50 .M ...... 38 ......
Locality.
These figures do not show any temperatures that are un-
usually high for this region, neither is the occurrence of fog
unusual at this Eeason ; i t is, in fact, the ordinary accompani- iiieiit of areas of high pressure in the wiuter time over the
ocean.
SNOWFALL IN NORTH DAKOTA.
With regard to the snowfall in North Dakota, Mr. B. H.
Broiison, in his November bulletin says :
The principal feature was tlie unusually early fall of snow, which became general over tlie State by the 5th instant, and was very heavy in many localities. Old settlers in this section remark that this early snow is the earliest that has occurred during their residence here, and has rendered the hauling of grain by sleds more practicable than by nagons. The snowfall proniises an abundance of moisture for the ground when the spring plowing shall commence, but at the present time it renders the pasturage ver poor, as the cattle are unable to get at the grass and low herbage. &e snowfall is greatly appreciated as
it prevents the further destruction of cro s and roperty by prairie tires. The observer at Fort Bertliold, in &Lean Eounty, reports the pasturage in that section as the poorest in many years, on account of the recent prairie fires, which have also devastated inany other sections of the State.
METEOROLOGY AND LOCAL STATE FAIRS.
The need of personal acquaintance setween the voluntary
observers and the directors of the respective State services is
alluded to in the Weather and Crops for January, 1596, by
the director of the Illinois Service, and he states his inten-
tioii to provide for such a need at an early date. On several occaeions the presence of sonie official of the Weather Bureau
at a county fair, a &ate fair, or a general exposition has
been productive of many advantages to the Weather Bureau
ohservers who attended such meetings. This was notably so
in the case of the expositions a t Atlanta and Chicago. In
general, State fairs offer an iniportant means of exhibiting,
day by day, to crowds of visitors the methods of observation pursued by the Weather Bureau and the numerous ways in
which its work can be made useful to the people. In recog-
nition of this general principle a special “ Board on Exposi-
tions” has been organized at the Central Office, and instru-
ments or publications that are appropriate for exhibition will,
i t is hoped, always he kept on hand ready for use.
POMIBLE ADVANCES IN THE WEATHER SERVICE.
We make the following extracts from an excelleiit address
by J. R. Sage? published in the current number of the Iowa
Monthly Review :
The weather has been the subject of daily observation and remark in all ages, yet the science which undertakes by rational and philo- sophical methods to account for tlie varied phenomena of the atmos- phere is comparatively new. By far the greater portion of all that has been achieved in the solution of the intricate problems relating to the weather has been wrou ht out within the latter half of the nine- teenth century. The Weatter Bureau, including the State branches, was instituted to serve the people, and to do this efficient1 it must be progressive, and the advances that are not only possde, but also most desirable, should be along educational a i d ractical lines. There is need of popularizing the science of meteoror)ogy, and more widely disseniinatin~ a knowledge of the salient facts that have been learned in this new held of investigation. * * * The special need of this
age is science made ppuler and widely difiseminated. To this end there is need of wor ers and students in this field who are in close touch with the comniuii people and who are sMe to translate the most scholarly and profound scientific writings into the Ian uage of ordi- nary people. The scientific lore of tliis age can not t e shut up in rloieters nor nioiiopolized by favored classes, but must be scattered broadcast to take root and bear fruitage in the world. I am glad to make note of the fact that the Weather Service is doing excellent work along the line of popular education.
I n practical horticulture success depends absolutely upon ada tation of plant or tree to the climate. And the Weather Service sIiou7d fur- nish the necessary data for the study of the effects of climate upon all classes of vegetation.
For the advancement of both horticulture and the Weather Service, a more close and intimate relation should be established between them.
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
464 MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. DECEMBER, 1896
l a
-. a :
i8 80 81
80
7 9 8 1
71
79 78
81
78
78
TI w 78
m
Ever man engaged in practical horticulture as his chief vocation, shourd be a thorough meteorological observer, with a full e uipment of the best scientific instruments to be obtaincd. * * * \$hen the horticulturist is fully equi ped and trained as a meteorolo$ist he sli+uld then 'oin the corps of vo7untary observers connected with the Htnte and dational Weather Services, thereby addin his quota to the gen- eral fund of knowledge for the benfit of the pslic.
But, after all, those who serve the public thus gratuitously are recip- ients of direct benefit in the form of scientific knowledge, and the satisfaction resulting from serving their State and nation.
We are just beginning to study some elementary lessons in the costly school of ex rienca : to learn how to retain our vast patrimony of soil fertility androw to handle the rainfall so as to dispose of the sur lils and provide for the storage of moisture for occasional seasons of fefi- ciency. The tendency of the climates of all mid-continent regions is toward extremes. The means may be constant through long periods, but the wide departures and sharp reactions are the special features of the climate that test the hardy qualities and vitality of all forms of animal and plant life.
I have only attempted to suggest some of the possibilities of advanre- ment in this branch of the public service, along these economic and educational lines. To make this service most valuable to the publi? there is required the active cooperation of a large number of intelli- gent observers. Large niasses of facts and figures should be collected and tabulated, and experts should give them careful study to find 6 U t
what they mean. There is mighty little in any of the book# to help us in the solution of the many intricate problems that perplex us. We must closely study the facts and question nature. The text-books of meteorological science are mainly in the fields, roves, foresta, and on the mountain tops. ~1 1 the elements are vocaf'witli instruction : the revolving old earth and the great dome of the sky above :we thickly set with object lessons for our study.
OBSEkRVATIONS AT HONOLULU.
Metcorobgiral obmatbiis at Honolulu, Republie of Hupaaii, by Curtis J. Lyons, Meteorologist lo the Gownment Bum~y.
Pressure is corrected for temperature and reduced to sea level. but the gravity correction, 4.06, Is still to be applied. The absolute humidity is ex ressed in grains of water, per cubic foot, and is the average of four observations Jaily. The average direction and force of the wind and the average cloudiness for the whole day are given unless they have varied more than usual. in which case the extremes are given. The scale of wind force is 0 to 10. Two dlrectlons of wind, con- nected by a dash. indicate change from one to the other: also same for form. The rainfall for twentydour hours is given as measured at 6 a.m. on the respective
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
-
$$
.
0 0
;z 67 71
i l l
62
7 9 6 3 2 5 6 3
7 9 6 4 8 0 6 6 69 7 9 6 5
7 6 6 7 67 72 7 8 6 5 66 7 9 7 3 72
7 8 7 8
m
7 9 6 4
71 71 71 7 8 % 7 8 7 2 7 9 6 6
l e 6 8
78.367.! I
67
~.
Metcolalogical obaerimtiom at Homlula, Republic of Hawaii, by c%rP J . Lyons, Meimvlogiat to tlu Gmrriinent h m y .
i
.z
;
1.. 3.. 3 .. 4 .. 5 .. G ..
7 .. 8 .. 9.. 10.. 11.. 12..
13.. 14.. 15..
16.. 17..
18..
19.. 9.. $1.. 1..
SI.. 24.. 25..
ea.. E'.. B.. 29.. 9 0 ~ 31..
a ' a 6 : 2 ---
Ins. IIW. 90.13 30.04
30.13 90.Q 30.10 90.08 30.12 90.03 90.10 90.01 90.08 29.99 90.01 29.w 90.04 29.'M 90.00 29.99 30.01 29.99 90.08 29.93 30.06 29.97 30.11 30.m 30.05 29.a) 90.Q 29.98 30.06 29.97 80.01 29.94
29.98 29.91
90.03 29.99 90.14 S0.M 90.0(1 29.98 90.08 29.99 90.03 29.94
30.06 29.w 90.05 29.99 30.06 29.w 90.01 29.97 90.05 29.96
29.98 29.88 29.88 29.76 29.78 29.74
30.01 29.98
d
:
c
U
E p a
I d * a -
6.7 6.9 6.7 6.8 6.8 7.1
7.0 6.4 7.0 6.8 7.0 7.6
8.0 8.5
6.8 5.1
5.9 6.6
6.6 5.7 6.9 6.0
6.2 6.5 7.0 6.8
7.2 7.1 6.3
6.7
6.5
--
d d
3 ;
3
4 a --
ne. ne. ne. ne. ne. ene. ne. nne. ene. eue. ne. wsw. sw. sw. s w n n. ne-se. se.
n. nne. s. n-s. sw-n. * * *
SW.
* *
........
i
P
1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5.. 6 ..
7.. 8.. 9 ..
IO.. 11 .. 18.. 13.. 14..
16..
16.. 17.. 18..
20.. 21 .. 1.. B.. 24.. 25.. 26.. 27..
29..
8 0 ..
19..
28..
;a g i -~
Ins. 30.10 90.12 90.10
90.10 30.01 30.03 90.01 90.15 90.18 90.17
90.14 90.09 90.06 90.00 29.98
29.w 29.92 29.87
29.87 29.99
80.w 90.10 90.12 90.13 90.1% 30.11
90.12
90.11
90.05
29.m
m.ia
--
4
5 4 4
Ilt8.
0.10
0.05 0.10
0.06
..-.
I
81 I 81
80 79
80 81 84
I 75 74 71 78
53 33 79
82
79
85 64
80
18.8
. - -
0 0 %
75 80
74 88 74 e4
10 67
I p 6 4
p 08
14 60
15 60
14 ?r 74 64 73 71 68 75 I 6 9 7 7
75 Ro 69 92 65 66 59 95 66 81 7 9 6 3 i o
65 74 65 65 61 M i 8 6 !2 6 9 8 0 6 3 7 0 8 0 6 8 8 1 7 9 7 2 7 0 8 74 66 75 &a 6 5 7 2
ai 74
68.370.!
i
6 4 3 4
103 3
10-8 4
3 9
3 4 3
2;:
0.15 0.10
0.03
0.09
1.b 0.03 0.60 0.59 0.06 0.00
0.00 000
::g
2 1-0 2-4
1
.....
0.16 0.00 0.00 0.01
4.36
Temperature. Humidity. I Wind. Pressnre at sea
I level.
-I I -
a 'd
W
-
0
60 66
67 73 71 ti2
tu 86 86
ti6
67 I 74 68
TJ $4 65 67 74 74 73 66 88 66 72 73 72 73 ';B
65
so
8.'
-
-
a d er __
0
75 75 76 78 33
E ,I
2 1 1
&I
*I
71
R w 78 76
76 78 78
w
R 78 77 w 76
R w Ti 76
R
r6.1
n
-
-
Ei d m _.
0
70
72 73 75 70 71 69
69 71
8L)
74 88 69
R 73 73 73 75 76 74 71 69
69 74 %I 73 7a 78
69 71
so
ri.
-
.. __
Rela- tive.
d
B
a
s
-
Ei d. m
% e4 69
65 66 8 74
80 81 81
88
rn 95
96 TI 78 70 74 77
so 81 85 88 81 'io 60
69 i8 74 92 94 80
-
..,
-
fi 6
Ins. 90.12 90. 15
90.13 90.09
90.01 30. 08 90.06 30.01
30. 01 30.01
90.02
so. 06 90.05
90.07 90. 04 29.97
9. 97 90. m 90.12 90.03
L.?. 90 90. 01
90.04 90.08 90. 05
30.01 90.00 2999 29.18 29.85
80.03
0
-
so. 1.1
-
a d m
9 59 61
67 56
70 74
70
73 74 91
8 91 81
70 79 77 OLI 70
so 72 81 70 74 67
70 5% 70 80 81
-.
E I ,
...
-
1
8 6 4 1
2
2-9 4 3 3 4 10
10 9 6
5-1
! b
1
3-9 5 7 3 7-8 6 8 2
4 5 2-10 1-10
3
4.9
5.1 one. 1 b.9 nue. 2 5.9 ne. 3 6.0 ue. 3 6.6 ene-s. 2-0 6.1 n-8. 1 6.2 8-U. 1
6.3 8-ue-dw 2-0 t1.4 w sw. 1 6.6 I s i . 1 ..
7.5 sw. 7.6 7.3 j s-e-w. ne-n-s.
i j 7.1 de. 7.2 e-ne. 6.5 ne 3 0.7 I ne: I 1
7.i ene. 3 6.7
1
UE.
I
2; 6.9 nne-ene 1-4 6.4 ene. 4-2 7.1 e-s. 1
6.8 SW-I?. 1 6.6 une. 2-6
6.2 ne. 5-3 6.1 ne. 4 6.8 ne. 4
6.6 ne. . W 7.0 e-8. 1
7.5 n-s-e-se 4-0 7.4 sW-W'. 3-1
.... ......... 2.0 12.43
-
The monthly summary forDecember la: Mean temperature, 6+2+ 9 + 8 is 72.5: ex
A thuodrrstorm ocrurred on the 90th at night. treme temperatures, 810 and 580.
THUNDER AND LIGHTNING IN DECEMBER.
Mr. Johu Butterworth, voluntary observer at Detroit, Oreg., writes as follows :
At 12.05 p. m., December 3, while in the midst of a driving snow- 8torm at Niagara, n e were astonished to 8ee a vivid and long-continuad flash uf lightning, followed quickly Ly a long and loud peal of thunder. As thunder in Oregon is unusual its occurence in connection with a
snowstoriu is worthy of record.
Mr. C. Bcholz, voluutary observer a t Mammoth, Kanawha
Co., W. Va., writes that a terrible storm passed over that place
between 4.15 and 6 p. ni. of December 26; winds ot hurricane
force doing great damage to timber ; lightning observed in
the southwest, followed by thunder ; snow from 7 p. m. to 9 p. m., after which i t cleared up, followed by heavy frost.
FROSTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Attention has been called to the statement made in the
MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW for September, 1895, page 341,
011 the, authority of Mr. James Boyd, of Riverside, Cal., to
the effect that "as a matter of fact the thermometer has sel-
dom been known to fall between sunset and sunrise more than
10') in a cold wave, or from 7 to 8 o'clock a t night to the same
hour next morning." It seems that this statenlent represents
a popular belief in that section of the country and, that rely-
ing upon its truth, many agriculturists are liable to feel at
ease in regard to their crops, and omit to take precautions
against frost when there is really more danger than they ap-
preliend. In order to give more precise information on this
subject the Editor has examined the meteorological recorda
for Riverside, as furnished by our voluntary observer, Dr. F. M. CSardner, beginning with November, 1594, when records
for 9 p. m. (Pacific time) as well as the maxinium and mini-
mum began to be reported. A table giving the fall from the
maximum of the afternoon to the minimum of the following
morning shows that the diurnal range may, in extreme cases,
be as large as 60°, and is rarely lower than loo. Of course,
the greater part of this fall occurs in the afternoon. The fall
dates.
Temperature. I Humidty. 1 Wind. I Pressure at sea 9 level. -
a 6 m
iz I-
-
d
c
d" -
5 b 5-0 4 3 3 5 5-6 6
6 5 1 1 3 1-4 1 2 2
2 2 3 1
1 1-0 2 2-0 1 1-0 1 2
,... -
-
a d,
ZIhS.
29.99
30.02
ra. 99 29.99
29. ge 90.00 90.06 90. 09
90.05 90.04 90.w 29. ge 29.90
29. 92
*. 88 29. I
L?. 76
29.7b 29.88
m. %3
90.00 90.03
90. 03 90.04
90.05 90.04
90.01
29.97
w
29. 98
29. w
m.01
-
a d
W
-
0
76 76
76 76 75 66
72 75
B 75 74 70 70 76 71 66 61 69 63
67 65 63 89
63 tz3 73 66 66
66 66
i9.1
-
-
a d. El -
0
81
80 81
80 79 79 79 78 33 80
81
79 78 74
72 70
57 33
76 76
77 5.9 73 79 79
80 i8
80
m
+i
-, I .,
-
-
a d m . ..
0
!! 1 1
E 1 1
75 72
w 77 R 76 75 74 76 70 71 65 69 67
65
71 66 67 67
74 70 75 71
70 66
x.
a5
-
-
a l i
a
% 64
71 64
67 74 90 68
88 88 $4
81 91
68 79
76 86
BB I e4 87 86 I 74
74 S i 90
75
n. I
-
m
A6
m
-
h 6 .
80.09 90.08
w.09 90.M 90.w 90.04
90.09 90.16 90. 16
90.13 90.08 90.08 80.05 29.94
90.00 29.94
*. 89 29.79 9.81 29.e 80.00
30.05
90. 09 90. 10 90.13
w. 1% 90.12 90. P% 90.11 30. 10
90. M
-
Mean temperature: 6+2+9+3 is 73.1; the normal is 74.1; extreme temperatures,
*Omitted from original report.
660 and 590.