PHYSICAL AND CLIMATIC SETTING 45 



limits of which are shown iu Fig. 10. The first or- 

 ganization for local climatic observations in America 

 was that inaugurated by the New York Board of 

 Regents in 1826 in cooperation with numerous acad- 

 emies under their supervision, which arrangement was 

 continued until 1863. Shortly after that date, other 

 agencies took up the work and continued it with some 

 degree of completeness until 1900, when the ISTational 

 Weather Service was inaugurated with which the 

 State service was atHliated. 



The passage of the storm centers through the Great 

 Lakes region is accompanied by shifts in the direction 

 of the wind, but a westerly course prevails. These 

 disturbances occur at intervals of three or four days 

 in winter and with less frecpency and strength in 

 ■summer. At any point in the State, the wind may 

 on occasion come from any point of the compass. 

 The velocity varies widely and sometimes exceeds the 

 speed of the fastest express train, but it seldom ex- 

 hibits the type or the violence of the tornado. The 

 southerly winds are most common in the extreme 

 west and in the southeast part of the State. 



In addition to tlie general wind movements, there 

 are local winds, usually of moderate velocity. In the 

 Long Island province a sea breeze is recognized in 

 quiet weather. It is most prominent late in the day 

 and may attain a velocity of ten to fifteen miles an 

 hour. The land breeze is best developed in the latter 

 part of the night. The sea breeze reaches inland 

 about ten miles, and this may be augmented somewhat 

 by the prevailing wind. 



