ABNORMAL WEATHER

Feilding Star, Volume 8, Issue 2517, 2 April 1930, Page 7

ABNORMAL WEATHER

SEEKING THE CAUSE THEORIES OF OBSERVERS Radio and the Gulf Stream share tho blame, Tll opinions already expressed, for the abnormal weather of recent years. Captains of Atlantic vessels agree in condemning H lO weather as worse than ever in their memory. One, master of a Ounard boat, lays the blame wlxole-heartedly. on radio. The weather, (be says, has grown consistently worse in the ratio that radio lias developed. He sees no hope for betterment, for the uses of radio ai'o not likely t° b© shortened, at laast in liis lifetime. The case against ,the Gulf Stream is that it has varied its course, and that a greater volume is passing into the polar sea. This contention is based oil reports of whaling masters that they found the temperature of the northern polar sea in an area of about 100,000 square miles several degrees warmer than usual. It obtained some support, also from reports that the Eskimos in Labrador were starving luecause-, ftlie f tiribou liad failed to undertake their usual winter migration to the south. The question is asked does tlic Gulf Stream change its course? If SO, what is tlie cause? A contributor to the New- York Press claims that it dees, now and then, and that the climate js affected . It is suggested that the recent submarine earthquake in the Atlantic, off Newfoundland, which broke 11 cables, will change the course of the Gulf Stream. All Anchor Line captain said that, 115 miles cast of Nantucket, he could find no bottom where formerly the water liad been quite shallow. A constant motion is said t° be in progress on the floor of the Atlantic. If the course of the Gulf stream was partly changed during the past few years, through the formation of a submarine ridge,, and that ridge' lias now collapsed, then the Gulf Stream may he expected to take its old course again, with a return to the weather of former times. On the other hand, if there should be la, permanent change, it would have a very serious effect on tlie climate here and in Europe. The Gulf Stream is not without, defenders, who point out that it h"s successfully withstood attacks on it 3 constancy before, and w ill do it again These writers say that it is not, ail inconsistent factor in the world’s domestic economy.

The oceangraphers and marine meteorologists have not yet entered the controversy. Perhaps they have not considered worth their while. If they do, they will pave the way to a brisk discussion, with the good name of the Gulf Stream before tlie bar of public opinion.