No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICUI/rURE. 459 



In tlie United Slates there are about 200 metooroloj^ical stations 

 with paid observers and the best instrninents (hat science can furnisli. 

 Observations are talcen several times a day and many of the instrn- 

 ments are self-recordinj? so that a continnons record is ke])t. More 

 than three thousand (3,000) voluntary observers every day mnko 

 a careful record of the weather, and at the end of the month send it 

 to the Weather Bureau. Here the records are compiled and classi- 

 fied and kept for future study. This work is duplicated the world 

 over. All this is done so that by studyinjcj these data man may be 

 able some day to learn the laws which govern the weather and be 

 able to foretell the weather just as an eclipse of the sun or moon 

 can now be foretold. 



A beginning has been made. We know many points about the trade 

 winds; the nature and foice of monsoons, land and sea breezes, and 

 many other phenomena have been worked out until they are fairly 

 well understood. 



Four great storm centers have been established. One in the West 

 Indies and extending along the eastern coast of the United States. 

 A record in the Philippine Islands and reaching into the China 

 Sea. A third in Samoa and the Fiji Islands and the fourth at 

 Mauritius, 



Again we have learned that the wind does not move in the direction 

 that the storm is moving but moves in an arch. In the northern 

 hemisphere counter-plot-wise or from right over to left, while in 

 the southern hemisphere it rotates in the direction that the hands 

 of a clock move. By noting the direction and change in the way the 

 wind is blowing, it is possible to tell on which side the storm center 

 is passing. This fact is used by sailors to keep out of the storm 

 center. 



Some stations make observations in the higher atmosphere. Some- 

 times kites are sent up which carry self-recording instruments. 

 These determine temperature, pressure, wind and humidity. Some- 

 times the kites have steel wires to hold them so that they can go 

 up about a mile. At other stations small baloons carrying instru- 

 ments are sent up. These have been known to reach an altitude of 

 15 miles, which is more than twice as high as man has ever been. 

 These instruments are marked so that anyone finding them will send 

 them through the post office to the sending station. While many of 

 these are never heard from yet many come back and tell their tale of 

 adventure far above the clouds. 



These inquiries in the upper air have revealed many peculiarities 

 which were not suspected. Most of these, of course, will be of more 

 value to the aviator than to the farmer, but they may result in our 

 learning what causes rain and changes in the weather, as well as 

 wind and frost. When these observations are used in connection with 

 the weather records, they may enable some master mind to outline the 

 laws which govern the weather. 



A beginning has alread}^ been made. The storm centers which be- 

 gin between the Equator and 25 or 35 degrees north latitude move 

 west, then north, then northeast with increasing velocity till they 

 reach about 65 north latitude when they generally have spent their 

 force. Little is known of the storms in the Artie Zone. The storms 

 that affect us most originate around Lake Superior and move down 

 the St. Law^rence and spend their force in the interior of Russia. The 



