32 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATURAL HISTORY OF ALASKA. 



This wind is the most frequent, and has the ratio of two to one of the north wind. Its temper- 

 ature is higher than that of the north wind. 



East wind. — A due east wind seldom prevails, as it has an east-northeast or east-southeast 

 tendency. It seldom lasts longer than one day, and usually for only a few hours, as it is in general 

 only blowing during the passage of northeast to south. Its velocity is high, about 28 miles per 

 hour, and on two occasions has exerted itself to a hurricane-rate, once of 86 miles and at another 

 time of highest storm-rate. Its temperature is warm, generally pleasant. 



It has the ratio of five-tenths to that of the north wind. 



Southeast wind. — The wind prevails from this point so seldom, and often in the relapse of the 

 north quadrant of storms, or else when the northeast wind is veering to south for a long period. 



This is the warmest of all the winds, and raises the temperature many degrees in spring, at 

 the season when this wind occurs most often, and attaining its greatest violence, sometimes that 

 of a hurricane-rate to that of highest gale. It is intimately connected with the south wind. 



Exceptions hold this wind for thirty hours, but the average duration is not longer than five 

 hours, with an average rate of 35 miles, always having a tendency to veer. It has a ratio of .25 

 to the north wind. 



Soxith icind. — The surface current from this point is the most frequent of the southerly winds. 

 It is the great current pushing toward all the storm centers of Northern Alaska. For days in 

 winter, and longer in summer, it will hurl masses of air at least a mile deep, and often 4 miles 

 deep, northward, at a rate of 50 miles per hour, and for hours asserts its terrific hurricane strength 

 of 85 to over 100 miles per hour. A short lull usually occurs in the center of these storms. The 

 vane is comparatively steady, considered for hours, but has sometimes a backing or veering tend- 

 ency, or even both, of 2 or 25 degrees on either side of south. 



To this wind we owe our very existence in this country. By its power the ice is forced 

 through the straits. The tides caused by this wind raise up and break the otherwise firmly 

 bound shore-ice. Our annual supply of wood is thrown on shore by this wind and its accompany- 

 ing tides. 



The temperature of this wind is higher than any other wind, excepting the southeast. It has 

 about the same frequency as the north wind. 



Southwest icind. — This wind, occurring so frequently and usually the resting point for backing 

 winds from the northeast, has a ratio of four-fifths to one of the north wind for frequency. Being 

 most often the result of a backing wind, it has the effect to reduce the temperature 15 to 20 

 degrees. By its low temperature it causes the greater amount of fog at this place. It always 

 has a tendency to veer, rarely backs, and especially to veer if the wind should back to this point. 

 Its rate is usually 30 miles per hour, and very seldom blows over 50 miles per hour. 



West wind. — This wind, usually prevailing in that quarter only temporarily, and from a backing 

 wind, has an effect to lower the temperature, but if veering to raise it. This wind, usually fresh 

 to brisk, has but once reached a gale rate of 55 miles per hour. It has a ratio of .25 to one of the 

 north wind. 



Northwest wind. — This is intimately connected with the west wind, and like it usually tempo- 

 rary in that point for only a short time, and usually the result of backing. Its temperature is low. 

 Its ratio to the north wind is as one-fifth to one. 



The rate of the wind is inconsiderable, seldom over a brisk rate, and its highest recorded 

 velocity is 48 miles an hour. 



That the west and northwest winds should occur most frequently I am led to infer from the 

 fact that during the winter of my first year at this station a delegate was sent from the neigh- 

 boring native village to request me to turn the dial of the anemometer so that it should face the 

 west, as it faced east-northeast, as the reindeer in moving go against the wind, and that would 

 bring them to this part of the coast. 



After some parley I convinced the native that the machine did not make the wind. I never 

 heard anything more about it. 



