KTZEOT'S DISCOVERIES.] 



METEOROLOGY. 



1173 



" The thermometer (shaded and in open air), when 

 much higher between 8 and 9 o'clock A.M. than the 

 average, indicates southerly or westerly wind ; but when 

 considerably lower, the reverse, or northerly currents of 

 air approaching, if not present. It is important to ob- 

 serve that the foregoing table of temperatures must be 

 corrected for other places. 



" Careful observations have now proved, that, although 

 England is generally visited by one or more storms 

 during the year, each of which is accompanied by terrible 

 local disasters, yet all these tempests (be they ever so re- 

 markable) are so much alike in character, and have been 

 preceded by such similar warnings, as to warrant our 

 reasoning inductively from their well-ascertained facts, 

 and thence deducing laws. Indeed, all investigations 

 into the characteristics of storms show the same results. 

 Gales from the south and west are followed by dangerous 

 storms from the north and east. Those from the west 

 and south come on gradually ; whereas those from the 

 north and east begin suddenly, and often with extraor- 

 dinary force. The barometer, with these north-eastern 

 storms, does not give direct warning upon this coast, be- 

 cause it ranges higher than when the wind is in the oppo- 

 site quarter. But though the barometer does not give 

 much indication of a north-east storm, the thermometer 

 does ; and the known average temperature of the locality 

 affords the means of knowing, by comparison, whether 

 the wind will be northerly or southerly. Besides the 

 familiar weather signs, Admiral Fitzroy considers that 

 the following special peculiarities, previous to great at- 

 I'heric commotions, should be observed : A great 

 fall of rain or snow, much lightning, unusual cold, or 

 e icessive heat, invariably precedes high winds or strong 

 galea. 



" Admira 1 Fitzroy is cautious in advancing any opinion 

 respecting the connection between electricity and storms. 

 It is certain that, although many eminent men do not 

 think that magnetic storms, or even auroras, are directly 

 connected with atmospheric currents, or have any special 

 relation to storms, many facts on record seem to point 

 to a different conclusion. We can only notice one ; but 

 this is most important. On the evening previous to the 

 Royal Charter storm, a brilliant meteor was seen ; and 

 during the previous week, blood-red streamers of aurora 

 were very prevalent. 



" We need hardly say that Admiral Fitzroy regards 

 any faith in change of weather at the moon's quartering 

 as utterly illusory, being based merely on deductions 

 from coincidences, and not on any philosophical basis. 

 It is, however, most remarkable how this unsound theory 

 keeps its place among men even of high education. An 

 amusing instance recurs to us. At one of the horticul- 

 tural fetes this summer, we met a gentleman who was 

 l"ii'l in his indignation because, it being a wet day, he 

 had ascertained that the Council of the Horticultural 

 Society had fixed their shows regardless of the moon's 

 quarters ; whereas, as he stoutly maintained, had proper 

 attention been paid to the lunar changes, wet weather 

 would have been avoided. We apprehend that the in- 

 dignant member has seen by this time, that the weather, 

 during this summer, at all events, is not influenced by 

 the moon. 



" Although the great working instruments of the me- 

 teorologist are the barometer and thermometer, which 

 should be of the highest order of excellence, we are glad 

 to hear that Admiral Fitzroy makes use of an instrument 

 called a storm-glass, which was much more common 

 formerly than it is now. We have long been acquainted 

 with this glass, and can speak confidently of its value 

 in aiding, with the barometer and thermometer, in fore- 

 casting weather. Admiral Fitzroy has observed this 

 instrument with great closeness, and these are his con- 

 clusions respecting its indications : When a storm-glass, 

 filled with the proper chemical mixture (camphor, nitrate 

 of potass and sal-ammoniac, partly dissolved by alcohol, 

 with water and air in an hermetically sealed glass bottle), 

 is Cxod undisturbed in free air, and not exposed to 

 radiation, fire, or sun, the mixture varies in character 

 with the direction of the wind. Aa the atmospheric 



current veers toward, comes from, or is approaching only 

 from the polar direction, the mixture grows like fir or 

 fern-leaves, hoar-frost, or crystallisations. As it tends 

 to the opposite quarter, the fines or spikes all regular, 

 hard, and crisp features gradually vanish. Before, and in 

 a continued southerly wind, the mixture sinks gradually 

 downwards in the bottle till it becomes shapeless, like 

 melted sugar. Before or during the continuance of a 

 northerly wind the crystallisations are beautiful. The 

 glass should be wiped gently occasionally, care being 

 taken not to shake the contents. While any hard or 

 crisp features are visible below, above, or at the top of 

 the liquid (where they form for much north wind), there 

 is plus electricity in the air ; a mixture of polar current 

 co-existing in that locality with the opposite or southerly. 

 When nothing but soft, melting, sugary substance is 

 seen, the atmospheric current is southerly, unmixed with, 

 and uninfluenced by the contrary wind. 



" In August, 1803, Admiral Fitzroy commenced pub- 

 lishing single ' forecasts' of the weather. Twenty 

 weather reports are received each morning, and ten each 

 afternoon, besides five from the continent. Double 

 ' forecasts' (two days in advance) are now published, and 

 are sent to the daily papers. As these ' forecasts' have 

 created considerable interest, Admiral Fitzroy explains 

 the principles on which they are made. 



" A barometrical height of 29-50, with about 60 of 

 temperature, may bo considered to indicate (if continued 

 a certain time) fresh south-west wind and mild air, pro- 

 bably cloudy, perhaps rainy ; about 30-50 inches, with 

 60 temperature, or less, would foretel and accompany 

 north-easterly wind, dry weather, and usually a clear 

 sky. Again, a high or rising barometer in the north- 

 west, with low or falling temperature, while in the south 

 and east the pressure is low or diminishing, indicates a 

 north-west wind, either extending generally, or checked 

 and deflected according to the diminution or increase of 

 the temperature in the south-east. 



" Objection has been taken to such forecasts, because 

 they cannot be always exactly correct for all places in 

 one district. It is, however, considered that general com- 

 prehensive expressions, in aid of local observers, who 

 can form independent judgments from the latter, and 

 their own instruments respecting their immediate vi- 

 cinity, may be very useful as well as interesting ; while, 

 to a person unprovided with instruments, an idea of the 

 kind of weather thought probable cannot be otherwise 

 than acceptable. 



" Certain it is, that although our conclusions may bo 

 incorrect, and our judgment erroneous, the laws of 

 nature and the signs afforded to man are invariably true. 

 Accurate interpretation is the real deficiency. There is 

 no doubt, that attentive observation to the meteorolo- 

 gical laws will enable us to interpret them bettor, ami 

 that, with increased knowledge and experience, ' forecasts' 

 of the weather will be even more worthy of credence 

 than they are now. But it is quite evident that enough 

 is already known to enable an attentive observer, with 

 good instruments, to acquire a useful foreknowledge of 

 the weather during the coming day or two, or even three 

 following days ; and the utility of Admiral Fitzroy's 

 weather warnings is amply illustrated by the fact, that 

 notwithstanding the extremely stormy weather that 

 prevailed in the North Sea during the first three months 

 of 1862, the coasts of Durham and Northumberland 

 have had a fortunate immunity from shipwreck, there 

 having been no serious shipping disasters on that line of 

 coast since November, 18G1." 



The preceding account of the progress made by the 

 Admiral and his staff in 1862, will doubtless prove in- 

 teresting to many of our readers : and we shall next call 

 attention to the more developed and mature results, 

 obtained since that date ; detailing, also, more particu- 

 larly the laws which are supposed to govern the produc- 

 tion of storms, or unusual atmospheric disturbances. 



In a communication with which we were favoured by 

 Admiral Fitzroy, he especially draws attention, as the 

 basis of his plans, to the following meteorological facts 

 and phenomena: viz. "A limited depth of atmo- 



