Additional objections to Redfield's theory of storms / by Robert Hare.

  • Hare, Robert, 1781-1858.
Date:
[1842?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Additional objections to Redfield's theory of storms / by Robert Hare. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    higher, or if elastic, denser at an intermediate point than the general level. In the case of an elastic fluid like the air, con- densation will be substituted for accumulation, and will amount to the same thing in effect. It would follow, that as the whirl should advance, the barometer would rise until the front limb of the zone of greatest condensation should arrive: subsequently it would fall till the central space should arrive, and then another rise and subsequent fall would ensue during the approach and departure of the rear limb of the zone of greatest condensation. 61. One fact is mentioned among the contradictory evidence above quoted, which seems to be supported by universal experi- ence. The barometrical column does fall at the commencement of a storm, and of course this fact does not accord with the idea that storms are whirlwinds produced by mechanical forces remote from the axis and attended necessarily by a centrifugal action which would accumulate the air towards the exterior. 62. Respecting another characteristic, the reliable facts and observations of our theorist, are no less irreconcilable than in the case last considered. I allude to the changes in the direction of the wind which ensue from the commencement to the end of a hurricane, and especially on the outer limbs on each side of the line of progression. 63. Thus speaking of the progress of a storm from southwest to northeast along the coast of the United States, he alleges that along the central portions of the track the first force of the wind is from a point near southeast, but after blowing for a certain pe- riod it changes suddenly, and usually, after a short inter- mission, to a point nearly or directly opposite to that from which it has previously been blowing; from which opposite quarter it blows with equal violence till the storm has passed over or aba- ted. Again, It is demonstrably evident, that at any point over which the centre of a whirlwind may pass, the wind must sud- denly change to a direction almost exactly opposite to that which has been felt during the preceding part of its progress. (This Journal, Vol. xx, p. 22.) It sometimes happens when the cen- tral portion of an extensive storm passes over or near the point of observation that the comparative calm or lull which prevails about the apparent centre of rotation, is preceded by a gradual rather than a sudden abatement of the wind. Every experi- enced navigator will shrink with instinctive apprehension from 4