THE 3T0RMS OF THE WINTER 1865-C. 153 



breadth, thousands o£ feet in depth, depending for their existence upon 

 great local differences of temperature, &c., &c. 



These atmospheric waves have been very carefully studied. On the 

 21st of September, 1S36, a wave of air passed over Halifax and the Avest 

 of continental Eiu-ope from NWW to SEE. This wave was 1,000 miles 

 broad and took 26 hoiu-s to make its passage at the rate of 2G miles per 

 hour. Another similar phenomenon passed on the 21st of December, 1837, 

 at the rate of 18^ miles per hour. The level strata of the air of this 

 majestic wave rose and fell through a vertical height of 1000 feet. It 

 has long been known that such a wave passes across our island in the month 

 of November called " the great November wave." It travels from NW. to 

 SE. at the rate of about 20 miles an hour, embracing the whole of Europe 

 and not uufrequently brings the most fearful hurricanes of the winter season. 

 The depth from crest to trough is oftenmorethan 1000 feet. In fourteen days 

 it makes its transit, and has a breadth of 6000 miles. Any one possessing 

 a good barometer may watch the progress of this interesting phenomenon. 



The storm which Ave now proceed to describe was part and parcel of 

 this November Avave. In doing this it Avill be our endeavour to interpret 

 the phenomena as ihey present themselves, and by our method of treatment 

 indicate a simple Avay in Avhich any intelligent person Avho has a barometer 

 and a thermometer may not only f orsee a coming storm, not only make such 

 observations as will enable him to judge of its characteristics, but also may 

 record such facts as Avill be of real value to a science Avhich is pre-eminently 

 one of observation. We will take the storm Avhich visited this district and 

 indeed the Avhole of England about the 22nd and 23rd of November, 1865. 



Let us go back to the 18th of November, and examine the A'arious 

 indications given by barometer, thermometer, cloud, wind &c. 



On the 18th, the barometer began to fall: — the electricity of the air 

 was positive and the amount of the free fluid considerable : — the Avind Avas 

 W:-'— a filmy Avhite veil of cloud Avas often suddenly throAvn over the sky 

 a sign of Avind or iinsettled weather. 



On the 19th, the barometer still fell: — there was little free electricity: — 

 the wind had gone from S. to W. against the motion of the sim — not a 

 good sign : — the wind AA^as up all the night and gave 6 fljs at the highest 

 pressure: — some rain fell: — the wind went to W. again: — calm night: — 

 more free electricity. 



On the 20th, the barometer still fell: — the Avind W: — colder: — 

 calm: — air full of vapour. — at 10 p.m , the Avind became gusty and some 



