THE MOON. 



309 



DOES THE MOON INFLUENCE THE WEATHER? 



Among the many influences which the moon is supposed, by the world in 

 general, to exercise upon our globe, one of those which have been most uni- 

 versally believed, in all ages and in all countries, is that which it is presumed 

 to exert upon the changes of the weather. Although the particular details of 

 this influence are sometimes pretended to be described, the only general prin- 

 ciple, or rule, which prevails with the world in general is, that a change of 

 weather may be looked for at the epochs of new and full moon : that is to say, 

 if the weather be previously fair it will become foul, and if foul will become 

 fair. Similar changes are also, sometimes, though not so confidently looked 

 for, at the epochs of the quarters. 



A question of this kind may be regarded either as a question of science, or 

 a question of fact. 



If it be regarded as a question of science, we are called upon to explain 

 how and by what property of matter, or what law of nature or attraction the 

 moon, at a distance of a quarter of a million of miles, combining its effects 

 with the sun, at four hundred times that distance, can produce those alleged 

 changes ? To this it may be readily answered that no known law or principle 

 has hitherto explained any such phenomena. The moon and sun must, doubt- 

 less, affect the ocean of air which surrounds the globe, as they affect the ocean 

 of water producing effects analogous to tides ; but when the quantity of such 

 an effect is estimated, it is proved to be utterly inappreciable, and such as could 

 by no means account for the meteorological changes here adverted to. 



But in conducting investigations of this kind we proceed altogether in the wrong 

 direction, and begin at the wrong end when we commence with the investiga- 

 tion of the physical cause of the supposed phenomena. That method of con- 

 ducting physical inquiries, which was bequeathed to us by the illustrious Ba- 

 con, and which has led to such an immense extension of our knowledge of 

 the universe, imperiously requires that before we begin to seek for the causes 

 of any phenomena, we must first prove beyond the possibility of doubt, the 

 reality of these phenomena, and ascertain with the utmost precision, all the 

 circumstances attending them. In other words, we are required to consider all 

 inquiries of the kind now adverted to, as mere questions of fact, before we 

 take them as questions of science. 



What, then, let us see, is the present question ? It is asserted that the moon 

 produces such an influence on the weather as to cause it to change at the new 

 and full moon, and at the quarters. But in this mode of stating the proposi- 

 tion, there are implicitly included two very distinct points, one of which is a 

 simple matter of fact, and the other a point of physical science. 



First. It is asserted that at the epochs of a new and full moon, and at the 

 quarters, there is generally a change of weather. This is a mere statement 

 of alleged fact. 



Second. It is asserted that the phases of the moon, or in other words, the 

 relative position of the moon and sun in regard to the earth is the cause of 

 these changes. 



Now it is evidently necessary to settle the first question before we trouble 

 ourselves with the second, for if it should so happen that the first statement 

 should prove to be destitute of foundation the second falls to the ground. 



The question of fact, here before us, is one most easily settled. In many 

 meteorological observations throughout Europe, a register of the weather in 

 all respects, has been kept for a long period of time. Thus the height of the 

 barometer, the condition of the thermometer, the hydrometer, and the rain 

 gauge ; the form and character of the clouds, the times of the falling of rain, 



