Redfield's Theory of Storms. 97 



the following language : — " This progress still continues while 

 the stormy mass is revolving around its own moving axis ; 

 and we can readily comprehend the violent effects of its un- 

 resisted rotation, while this velocity becomes accelerated by 

 nearly all the oblique forces and perhaps resistances of the 

 circumjacent currents or masses of moving atmosphere. These 

 storms cover, at the same moment of time, an extent of con- 

 tiguous surface, the diameter of which may vary from one to 

 five hundred miles, and in some cases have been much more 

 extensive. They act with diminished violence towards the 

 exterior, and with increased energy towards the interior of 

 the space which they occupy." (Silliman's Journal, vol. xxv. 

 p. 114.) 



69. Thus it is assumed, that a mass of air from " one to 

 five hundred miles in diameter" being made to whirl with the 

 velocity of a most furious gale, is not only " unresisted " by 

 the waves, forests, hills and mountains which it may en- 

 counter, but is actually "accelerated by nearly all the oblique 

 forces and perhaps Resistances" which it may meet. Yet 

 it must be quite clear, that any reaction with currents not 

 moving the same way, or moving with an inferior velocity, or 

 obliquely, could only be productive of retardation. 



70. The following inconsistencies will show how far Mr. 

 Redfield's account of the phenomena of storms is to be deemed 

 sufficiently accurate or consistent to overset the established 

 principles of science. 



71. "The rotation of a continued whirlwind involves not 

 only changes in the position and condition of its constituent 

 particles, but a constant accession of the exterior atmosphere 

 to the body of the whirlwind, together with a discharge equally 

 constant spirally at one extremity of its axis of rotation." 

 (Franklin Journal, vol. xix. p. 122.) Ibid., p. 120: " Nor is 

 it my intention to deny any movement or upward tendency 

 at the centre of a whirlwind storm, for of such a movement, 

 apart from theory, I have long since obtained good evidence." 

 Ibid., p. 122: " In regard to the depression of the barome- 

 ter which I have ascribed to the rotary action of whirlwind 

 storms, Mr. Espy has himself shown, that the centrifugal ac- 

 tion in a storm which gyrates horizontally must tend to with- 

 draw or rarefy the air at the centre by causing a transfer or 

 accumulation towards the exterior of the storm, thus causing 

 a higher state of the barometer around the exterior border, 

 than at the centre of the gale. This connexion and result is 

 in strict accordance with the facts of the case as exhibited in 

 all storms of this character, so far as my observations and in- 

 formation extend." 



Phil. Mag. S.3. Vol. 23. No. 150. Aug. 1843. H 



