380 rnVSICAL OEOGRArHY OF THE SEA, AND ITS METEOROLOGY. 



monsoon. The passing of the meridian by the moon appears to 

 be the fixed point of time for the turning of the currents. It is 

 probable that the heated water of the Archipelago is discharged 

 to the north during the east monsoon, and to the south during 

 the west monsoon. 



708. Marhng the seasons. — " As the sea makes the coming of the 

 southern summer known to the inhabitants of the Java coast,* the 

 turning of the east monsoon into the west monsoon commences. 

 After the sun has finished its yearly task in the northern hemi- 

 sphere, and brings its powerful influence to operate in the southern 

 hemisphere, a change is at once perceived in the constant fine 

 weather of the east monsoon of the Java Sea. As soon as it is at 

 its height upon the Java Sea (6° south), then the true turning of 

 the monsoon begins, and is accomplished much more rapidly 

 than the spring turning. The calms then are not so continuous. 

 The combat in the upper atmosphere appears to be less violent; 

 the south-east trade, which has blown as the east monsoon, does 

 not seem to have sufficient strength to resist the aggressors, who, 

 with wild storms from the north-west and west, make their supe- 

 riority known. Upon and in the neighbourhood of the land 

 thunder-storms occur, but at sea they are less frequent. 



709. Conflicts in the air. — " The atmosphere, alternately clear 

 and cloudy, moves more definitely over from the north-west, so 

 that it appears as if no combat was there waged, and the south- 

 east gives place without a contest. The land breezes become less 

 frequent, and the phenomena by day and nig]jt become, in a 

 certain sense, more accordant with each other. Storms of wind 

 and rain beneath a clouded sky alternate with severe gales and 

 steady winds. In the last of November the west monsoon is 

 permanent. 



710. Passing of the calm belts. — " Such are the shiftings. But 

 what have they to do with the general system of the circulation 

 of the atmosphere ? Whenever we read attentively the beau- 

 tiful meditations of the founder of the Meteorology of the Sea, 

 and follow him in the development of his hypothesis, which lays 

 open to view the wheels whereby the atmosphere peiforms its 

 varied and comprehensive task with order and regularity, then it 

 will not be necessary to furnish proof that these turnings are 



* In the Archipelago we have generally high water but once a day, and, 

 with the equinoxes, the tides also turn. The places which have high water 

 by day in one monsoon get it at night in the other. — Jansen. 



