WINDS. 



387 



half hours. The aerial current was found to prevail strong to the 

 southeast. In the second voyage of Gay-Lussac, when he ascended to 

 the extraordinary height of 23,940 feet, and continued up for six 

 hours, the aerial current was then from the northwest, directly oppo- 

 site to the former. On this voyage, Gay-Lussac, at the immense 

 height he reached, had still the cirrous clouds above him, pointing in 

 various directions. In both of these voyages, the most remarkable 

 on record, we have a contradiction of the theory of the southwest 

 upper current towards the Pole, as well as the slipping of the earth 

 under its atmosphere. Had it been so, Gay-Lussac would have landed 

 nearly one-quarter of the earth's circumference to the westward. He 

 returned to mother earth a little over fifty miles from where he set 

 out. 



The voyages of Mr. Wise, the aeronaut, as well as others, do not 

 prove that the aerial current is flowing from the west to the east. 

 During the period of the year when his ascensions took place, there 

 is generally a flow from the southwest and northwest to the eastward ; 

 that is, from the land towards the ocean ; and although he states 

 that there exists a westerly current within an elevation of 12,000 feet, 

 I can find no proof in the publication of the voyages on which this 

 bold and intrepid aeronaut bases his remark. 



The cirrous clouds ought to afford us some indication of the course 

 of the aerial currents in the upper atmosphere. The forms which 

 these suspended vapors assume must be more or less shaped by the 

 aerial currents in which they exist. Frequently they are seen to 

 undergo rapid changes. Every one who has watched these clouds, 

 knows that they tend in all directions. These facts go to prove that 

 although upper currents prevail, they do not follow the tbeory, viz. : 

 flow from the Equator towards the Poles, or in any particular direc- 

 tion. 



It is impossible that the air of the Tropics should carry any heat to 

 the Poles, to modify and lessen the rigor of the northern and southern 

 climates, as held by the old theory ; — for the air, on ascending, is 

 reduced to the low temperature of the freezing-point, within the Tro- 

 pics, at the height of 16,000 feet above the sea, at which altitude the 

 snow-line is constant. It is therefore evident that there is nothing to 

 support the theory that there are " return currents in the upper 

 atmosphere flowing from the Equator to the poles and it is utterly 

 impossible, if they did exist, that they could carry any of the heat 



