Copyright, 1920, by
A. C. GILBERT
New Haven, Conn.
WEATHER INDICATIONS
A Study of the Weather
In the minds of most people a very silly notion prevails about the
weather and the weather man. They have a general impression that the
weather knows no laws—that it is lawless and reckless, fickle and
changeable; that the weather man is a sort of conjurer, and by some
mysterious gift he is able to prophesy things that most people know
nothing about. Nothing could be further from the truth.
After you have carried out the simple experiments described, and have
read this text, whether you have a scientific trend of mind or not, you
will at least learn that the weather is a science, like electricity,
chemistry, or medicine; that its laws are uniform, constant, and
unchanging, and there is really nothing mysterious about it. The weather
man is a scientist and by means of instruments, which indicate certain
things, he comes to definite conclusions. He is not a prophet; he does
not prophesy; he forecasts.
If you are interested in having a Weather Bureau station of your own,
you will find it one of the most interesting things you ever acquired in
your life. You will soon gain a knowledge of a subject that most people
are quite ignorant of, and if you desire to stand for leadership among
your boy friends, it may be achieved by knowing about those things that
to most boys, and in fact to adults, assume a mysterious and magical
aspect.
A Weather Bureau station at your home will give you a source of
pleasure, fun, and insight into a science that is intensely interesting,
easy to understand, fascinating and worth while knowing. The importance
of the subject cannot be overestimated. It has an influence on the whole
world; it affects our health; it affects our comfort; it means success
or failure in farming; it has an immense influence upon transportation.
When ready to move perishable goods, the transporter must have
indications of what the weather is going to be.
The weather observer is the guardian angel of the ships at sea; some men
have doubts as to whether medicine itself has saved more human lives
than the study of the weather and the practice of weather observing. It
is not unusual for those who live along the coast to see ships hovering
into cover long before a storm approaches, for the wonderful weather
bureau system operated by the United States Government gives warnings
and danger signals all over the country. Statistics show that losses
have been reduced seventy-five to eighty per cent through this system.
The marine warnings are so perfect, so prompt, and so efficient that for
a great many years no long or hard storms have ever reached any part of
the United States without advance warnings and danger signals being
shown beforehand.
When a storm is brewing, the Government’s wonderful Weather Bureau
organization watches every atmospheric change with the greatest care and
concern, and takes observations every few hours, and telegraphs the
indications to all places where a warning should be given. Thereby
perishable goods that need protection can be looked after. When extra
hazardous storms and weather changes of a severe character are
indicated, hundreds of thousands of telegrams are sent out in a
comparatively short time, to all parts of the country, so that
interested parties may prepare for such conditions. One can readily see
the great service rendered and the satisfaction it must be to the
shipper and the farmer to know that his property, which might be
destroyed by a bad storm or low temperature, is being constantly and
carefully guarded against danger. Not only storms and great cold waves
have been forecasted, but floods have been anticipated and warnings
given.
This brings us to a study of the subject “Weather,” and the best way to
learn about the weather is to first learn about the air.