CONCERNING THUNDERSTORMS— I 



By WILLIAM J. S. LOCKYER, M.A , Ph.D., F.R.A.S. 



"We often see, against some storm, 



A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still, 

 The bold wind speechless, and the orb below 

 As hush as death : anon the dreadful thunder 

 Doth rend the region." 



Shakespeare (Hamlet). 



EVERY one of my readers has had 

 an opportunity of witnessing in this 

 country the fine display which a 

 thunderstorm presents — when Nature 

 seems to be turned loose for a time. The 

 storms which we experience in these 

 Isles are, however, veritable pigmies 

 when we come to compare them with 

 those that are born and bred in tropical 

 regions ; nevertheless, many of us have 

 often felt considerably alarmed even 

 when compelled to be present at the 

 advent of these minor types of atmo- 

 spheric disturbances. 



In spite, however, of the dangers 

 which may accrue from violent thunder- 

 storms, the lover of Nature should welcome 

 their approach. Is there not majestic 

 grandeur in the enormous cumulus cloud 

 which composes the storm, folds and folds 

 of which soar skywards ? Is there not 

 interest in the rapid movements in several 

 directions, both horizontally and vertically, 

 of the air currents as indicated by the 

 ever changing positions and forms of the 

 cloudlets ? Is there not beauty in the 

 fine gradations of colours — blue, mauve, 

 violet, etc. — as the storm approaches ? 

 And, lastly, is there not wonder, perhaps 

 mixed with awe. in the magnificent display 

 of Nature's untied energy as exhibited by 

 the intensely dazzhng flashes of hghtning 

 and the accompanying, or, rather, subse- 

 quent, peals of thunder which reverberate 

 through the air ? 



With such objects of interest and study 

 before us, some best seen by day and 

 others when the storms occur during the 

 night-time, no opjiortunity of watching 

 them should be missed. In this way a 



thunderstorm, which many people look 

 upon as a nuisance, to be dispensed with 

 as soon as possible, may become a thing 

 of beauty, and worthy of the closest 

 attention. 



It is a curious fact to note that an 

 atmospheric disturbance such as a thunder- 

 storm — in which torrents of rain fall, 

 heavy squalls of wind are experienced, 

 and almost incessant lightning and 

 thunder occur — is. after all, the result 

 of a very peaceful and serene state of 

 the atmosphere about us. 



Most of us can recall one magnificently 

 fine summer's day when Nature seemed 

 nothing but smiles for us, and appeared 

 to be doing her best to make everything 

 as ideal as possible. We can all remember 

 also how our confidence in her received 

 a rude shock by the quick approach of 

 a thunderstorm, which converted serenity 

 into chaos ! 



When one, however, begins to observe 

 closely, and tries to find out the inner 

 working, so to speak, of Natiu'e's pro- 

 cedure, one is led to the conclusion that 

 there is a greater number of steps in 

 the process of the formation of a thunder- 

 storm than one might at first think, 

 and they are of the greatest interest to 

 watch. 



Let us for a moment pass in re\'icw 

 the general sequence of changes which 

 are experienced as a storm approaches 

 and ]msses o\'cr an observer (hiring the 

 day-time. By careful watching it will 

 be seen that the blue sky gradually be- 

 comes covered with a layer of thin cloud, 

 usually termed cirro-stratus, at a great 

 altitude. This very elevated cloud form 



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