76 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



METEOROLOGY. 



TORNADO STUDIES FOR 1882. 



BY JOHN P. FINLEY, U. S, SIGNAL CORPS. 



Without speaking too positively about the future, but unreservedly concern- 

 ing the past, I can venture to say that the year before us will probably be a re- 

 markable one in the chronology of its tornado season. Already and unusually 

 early has the dreaded work commenced, and evidences are rife of unexampled 

 fury coupled with those unmistakable signs which characterize the manifestations 

 of the funnel-shaped cloud, never to be forgotten when once experienced. 



Michigan was visited on the 6th day of April by remarkably violent tor- 

 nadoes, especially the one which passed across the southern portion of the State, 

 giving evidence of its wonderful power in VanBuren, Allegan, Kalamazoo, Barry, 

 Eaton, Ingham, Livingston, and Oakland counties. This unfortunate and dis- 

 astrous visitation upon the people of the Peninsula State was in part, but to a less 

 degree, reahzed throughout portions of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois, on 

 the same day and during the same afternoon. 



Within the extensive barometric trough which consumated its energy on 

 that fatal day, whose major axis extended southwestward from the Upper Lake 

 Region to northern Texas and its minor axis from the Mississippi and Ohio riv- 

 ers northwestward to central Minnesota and southern Dakota, there appeared 

 three points of local atmospheric intensity, viz : central Kansas, northeastern 

 Missouri and the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. At the places here indicated 

 the violence of atmospheric changes resulted in the formation of tornadoes. 



The work of investigation in Michigan has to a certain extent been completed, 

 at least so far, so that it has been possible for me to accomplish the removal of 

 my headquarters to Kansas City, Mo. , where under special instructions from the 

 Chief Signal Officer, I shall prosecute the work of investigation in the Lower Mis- 

 souri Valley. 



This region of country embraces the States of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri 

 and Iowa, and can literally be termed the battle ground of tornadoes. It is here 

 that this class of violent wind storms occur with the greatest frequency, the most 

 unexampled violence, the most marked regularity, and with the most complete 

 manifestation of their peculiar characteristics. Continuing my labors until the 

 expiration of the tornado season, I shall, aside from the examination of any par- 

 ticular tornado, with a view to gain new and important truths, give special atten- 

 tion to the following important features of this class of violent wind-storms, viz : 



