The following quotation induces me to put a Query to the numerous
scientific readers of your widely-circulated publication:
"It is a remarkable circumstance that an unprecedented quantity of rain
has fallen during the last year (1852) all over the world,--England,
Ireland, Europe generally, Africa, India, and even in Australia."
Query, Is it anywhere recorded that so widespread a rainfall has been
previously noticed? It is said that excessive rainfall has been general all
over the world; and it would appear to have been general over a great
portion of the land. This, however, does not constitute the whole world.
The area of our globe is composed of about four-fifths water to one-fifth
land; so that an excess of rain might fall upon every square mile of land,
and yet the _average_ rainfall of the whole world not be exceeded. This is
an important truth, and should be generally understood. Taking the surface
of the whole world, there is probably, year by year, the same amount of
sunshine and heat, the same quantity of evaporation, and the same volume of
rainfall; but there is inequality of distribution. We find a dry summer in
America, and a wet one in Europe; excessive wet in the south of Europe,
with excessive drought in the north; with similar excesses over much more
limited areas. This case holds good even for the extraordinary year of
1852. Excess of rain has fallen on most of the land over the earth's
surface; but there has been a minimum on the great oceans; as see the
accounts of the fine weather, light winds, and calms, experienced in the
voyages to Australia.
The question of general equality and local excesses may now, through our
commerce, have that attention given to it which has hitherto been
impossible. It is well worthy of study.