104 HLS Whitfield on Tornadoes in the Southern States. 
sum of the Ree of all the centripetal streams set freeina | 
contracted are : 
It is a well- catablish ed fact that tornadoes are translated from 
west to east. It is also admitted that they are generated in a 
calm atmosphere. It 18, os surprising that Espy and | 
other advocates of the cending column” theory, did not — 
perceive that their Piectga. ae cial. be translated in 
the opposite direction, or from east to west. As the earth 
rotates to the east, carrying the atmosphere along, it follows — 
that the greater the elevation or distance from the axis, Z 
greater must = : e velocity eastward. Hence, an ascending — 
column, penetrating the upper and more rapid strata, is left — 
behind or Sepsis! to the west. Overlooking this principle, — 
however, they assign as the cause of the direction of tornadoes _ 
an elevated and constant eastward wind, maintaining that he 
seizes the top of the tornado and drags it as a ship 
anchor. But there is no cohesion in eriform columns, as iD 
cables, and it is, therefore, raat for a force applied at 7 af 
summit to pull the base along. Espy contradicts his 
theory frequently by asserting that the tops of rising colomal 
where cumuli, are “shaved off” by upper currents. Itis — 
evident that if a strong wind from the southwest should — 
3 
‘a way easily explained, cause a deflection. 
t has been shown that a column of air ascending in a calm 
must be deflected to the west by the earth’s rotation. For the 
same reason one descending must be bo abel eastward. bis a 
tel a fh ura 
at the surface, - 
