ON THE ENERGY OF STORMS MARGULES 59£ 



have a potential energy that is only a small fraction of the observed 

 kinetic energy. So far as I can see the source of storms is to be 

 sought only in the potential energy of position. A system in which 

 the masses are disturbed vertically from equilibrium can contain 

 the necessary potential energy. Hence, therefore, the storm winds 

 develop by reason of the velocity due to descent and that due to 

 buoyancy, notwithstanding the fact that these evade attention 

 because of the large horizontal and small vertical dimensions of 

 the storm area. The horizontal distribution of pressure appears 

 as a translation of the driving power of the storm; by means of 

 it a portion of the mass can attain greater velocity than by simple 

 ascent in the coldest Or descent in the warmest portion of the 

 storm area. Here we come into the presence of problems that 

 cannot be solved by a simple consideration of the energy alone. 



