Objections to Mr. Redjield's Theory of Storms. 141 



tornado ; but I think that the survey of Bache and Espy, shows 

 that it would be inconsistent with the facts to suppose such a mo- 

 tion, unless as a contingent result, and that it could only be a cas- 

 ual effect of the currents rushing towards the axis of the tornado. 



3. Being of opinion that calorific expansion is inadequate to 

 explain the afflux of wind towards the equator, the same author 

 alleges that ^Hhe space previously occupied by the atmosphere, so 

 left behind is by the centrifugal action of the earth's rotation, con- 

 stantly supplied from higher latitudes.'" 



4 I presume that the meaning of this allegation is, that the cen- 

 trifugal force communicated to the air at the equator by the di- 

 urnal revolution of the earth, lessening the gravity of the air thus 

 affected, causes it to rise and give place to those portions of the 

 atmosphere, which existing where the diameter of the earth is 

 less, have less rotary motion. Admitting an afiiux to arise in this 

 way, could it have any other effect than that of accumulating air 

 over the equator, compensating by quantity and altitude for the 

 loss of weight arising from a greater centrifugal force pertaining 

 to that region ? But on the other hand, if we attribute the ascent 

 of the air at the equator to heat, the theory of calorific circulation 

 will account for the continuance of the process. 



5. In ascribing the prevalence of westerly winds in the upper 

 regions of the atmosphere to the deflection of the trade winds by 

 our mountains, Mr. Redfield's explanation harmonizes with the 

 theory of Halley. In fact as the water accumulated by these 

 winds, in the Gulf of Mexico, is productive of the Gulf Stream, is 

 it not reasonable that there should be an aerial accumulation and 

 current, corresponding with that of th€ aqueous current which is 

 designated by the name above mentioned ? But not perceiving 

 that the trade winds cannot be explained without the agency of 

 temperature, Mr. Redfield, in the following paragraph, rejects the 

 influence of heat. 



6. " To me it appears that the causes of the great storms m,ay 

 be considered to indicate vAth entire certainty the great law of cir- 

 culation in our atmosphere, and that the long cherished theory, 

 which is founded on calorific rarefaction, must give place to a 

 more natural system^ of winds and storms, founded mainly upon 

 m>ore simple conditions of the great laws of gravitation.^^ 



7. It would seem from this paragraph, as well as others, that Mr. 

 Redfield considers gravitation, uninfluenced by heat or electricity, 



