96 Editorial Miscellany. 



form of rain, or snow. Dry air, on the other hand, by reason of its 

 greater weight, has a tendency to sink downward and exert a pressure 

 upon the earth. During the prevalence of a southerly or equatorial 

 current of air we find, therefore, a low barometer and coraj)aratively 

 high temperature ; while under a northerly or polar current the op- 

 posite holds true. In the one case the currents move from the warmer 

 regions of the earth, passing over warm countries and great bodies of 

 water, continually absorbing vapor, and in their upward movements 

 forming clouds by condensation and finally rain. In the other case, 

 the currents coming from the polar regions are cold and have a 

 greater density, causing a high barometer, and correspondingly low 

 temperature. 



Storms. — Storms are more or less violent and extensive commotions 

 of the atmosphere. As a general thing, they are accompanied by a 

 fall of rain or snow, and ofttimes by thunder and lightning, although 

 the storm area may extend beyond the area of rain or snow. Ascend- 

 ing currents of air naturally encounter less pressure, and in consequence 

 the air expands, and in expanding cools at the rate of 38° for every 

 two miles of ascent. The vapor which it contained at the earth's 

 surface is carried with it, and the cold produced by expansion condenses 

 a portion of this vapor into cloud. When cloud begins to form, the 

 latent or inappreciable heat of the vapor is liberated", increasing the 

 temperature of the air in the cloud, which expands in volume and 

 continues to ascend as long as its temperature exceeds that of the 

 surrounding air. By reason of the expansion of the air in the forming 

 cloud, especially after rain begins to fall, the air spreads out in all 

 directions above, while near the limits of the cloud, owing to its 

 greater weight, it sinks downward, and a portion of it seeks the center 

 of the upward current, the remainder flowing as a gentle wind outward 

 from the limits of the cloud. In consequence of the air spreading out 

 more rapidly above the cloud than it runs in below, storm areas extend 

 with great rapidity, until they frequently attain a diameter of more 

 than a thousand miles. 



^^ To Subscribers and the Public. — The success and character of a Journal de- 

 pends largely upon its subscription list. We desire to increase our own as far as 

 possible, and rely upon every subscriber to aid us in so doing, assuring them of 

 our best efforts to build up a Journal, in which every scientist may feel an interest, 

 and every intelligent citizen of Cincinnati a local pride. Its pages are intended to 

 be a medium for advanced thought upon every subject of Natural Science, and in 

 this view we invite contributions from scientific experimenters and thinkers every- 

 where. — Editors^ 



