258 THE TWIN STORMS OF JANUARY, 1867. 



changed, and the air is suffused with warmth and loaded with 

 moisture. 



In endeavouring to ascertain the origin of these Storms, we 

 must take into consideration that each was preceded by a period 

 of intense cold, and that the North wind shifted to E. and S.E,, 

 and then the storm commenced. It is therefore probable that the 

 contrast between the cold and heavy air on the western coast of 

 Europe with the warm lighter air on the Atlantic Ocean was the 

 disturbing element which created these winter storms. It is found 

 that extensive regions of equable temperature, whether of cold or 

 heat, are usually free from storms. A Canadian winter is intensely 

 cold ; but the air over the wide-spread coating of snow is usually 

 still. The broad expanse of the Pacific Ocean has perhaps a 

 larger extent of equable temperature than any other portion of the 

 world ; and it has obtained its name, because it is seldom ruffled 

 by storms. On the contrarj'', where the cold air of snow-clad hills 

 approaches the warm waters of the sea, there the most violent 

 storms are localized. At the top of the G-ulf of Venice the dreaded 

 storm wind, the Bora, comes down in winter, from the snow-clad 

 Alps on the N.E. to the warmer sea, with terrible thunder and rain ; 

 and Venice prohibited her vessels, under heavy penalties, from at- 

 tempting to return home between the 15th of November and the 

 20th of January. The storm which shattered our fleet on the coast 

 of the Crimea, was accompanied with snov,'' and severe cold. The 

 warm water of the Gulf Stream passing through a colder sea, is 

 throughout its route subject to gusty weather and storms ; and the 

 West Indian hurricanes sweep along its path like a race-horse in 

 its course. The cause is obvious : the warm air over the hot sea is 

 expanded and rises, and the cold and heavier air of the adjoining 

 space rushes in to fill up the partial vacuum. The snow which 

 falls on the hills bordering the warm waters of the Atlantic must 

 therefore be a storm-breeder ; and during the Storm of the 6th 

 of January the contrast between the temperature of the air on 

 land and that at sea, was very great. The invasion of northern 

 cold had chilled the air of western Europe to as low as 20°. At 

 Falmouth the temperature of the sea was 49° ; and on the western 

 coast of Ireland, from north to south, in January month it is sel- 

 dom below 50°. The same heated water extends 2000 miles west- 

 ward from the Irish coast ; and an inspection of the log-books of 



