2 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



stumbles over in attempting to use astronomical formulas where a rule-of-thumb 

 fits so nicely. 



That water runs down hill, that winds blow because mechanical pressure 

 makes them,- that clouds change from local conditions, these seem trifling axioms 

 to the too-far-come-seeking meteorologists of some reports, official and otherwise, 

 and yet it can hardly be doubted that the final causes of many atmospheric 

 phenomena are by no means very remote and recondite^ but on the contrary 

 near at hand, and having similitudes in everyday and trifling experiences. 



There is really wanted a well-edited meteorological journal — exclusively 

 meteorological — for every special science needs a special treatment. The habits 

 of mind of all classes of speciaUsts take a peculiar tone from their occupation. 

 As in art, landscape and genera artists agree as to general principles, but differ 

 widely in their methods of handling and treatment of subject, as in music instru- 

 mentalists and vocalists are each bound to special qualities of excellence, so in 

 science meteorologists cannot move quite easily with naturalists, botanists, archae- 

 ologists, though there is really more sympathy than divergence between them. 



However that may be, the study of meteorology seems now to be, as at first 

 stated a calculation of contingencies. The atmosphere seems to be a particu- 

 larly unstable medium. It is exceptionally in extremes, now of heat and cold, 

 now of greater or less pressure, and now of moisture or of dryness. Because it 

 is of one nature to-day we may expect the opposite soon. When the barmometer 

 is high it presages the coming of that which is termed a low. If the track of 

 an area of small pressure is exceptionally out of its normal course it seems to 

 take more time for nature to get back to her established routine, and meaawhile 

 extravagance is the order of her motions. 



All this is rather that of a philosophy which deals in chances than with 

 exact science. Is it not possible that for a few years this will have to content 

 us ? although we have something fairly certain to go upon. For example, the 

 following is a table of tracks of low barometers during March, from the point 

 of view of a resident of Madison, Wisconsin. 



If we were to put in brief form a general statement of weather conditions, 

 it would be something in this form, taking the above table as a text or reference 

 sheet. Taking for example, 



GENERAL CONDITIONS OF STORM AREAS. 



A difficult problem in modern meteorological science is the discovery of a 

 reason for the variation of these almost periodic low barometer tracks. That 

 there are normal directions corresponding to the several seasons of the year, is 

 certain, and also that there are divergencies frequent enough to be expected, 

 though when and where still eludes accurate formulating. If it be true, as those 

 who favor the mechanical or theory of vortices beHeve, that there is a permanent 

 northwesterly current north of us and a permanent south and southeast current 

 south to southeast of us, and that their meeting and conflict, now to the partial 

 advantage of the one and now to the partial advantage of the other, produces 



