A Guide To The Scientific Knowledge Of Things Familiar - novelonlinefull.com
You’re read light novel A Guide To The Scientific Knowledge Of Things Familiar Part 67 online at NovelOnlineFull.com. Please use the follow button to get notification about the latest chapter next time when you visit NovelOnlineFull.com. Use F11 button to read novel in full-screen(PC only). Drop by anytime you want to read free – fast – latest novel. It’s great if you could leave a comment, share your opinion about the new chapters, new novel with others on the internet. We’ll do our best to bring you the finest, latest novel everyday. Enjoy
Q. _Why are the winds in Europe generally the most PLACID during the months of SEPTEMBER and AUGUST?_
A. August and September are our _warmest months_, when we approach nearer to the heat of the torrid zone than in any _other two months_; therefore, the air (to and from the equator) _moves with less velocity_ in our northern hemisphere.
Q. _Show the GOODNESS and WISDOM of G.o.d in the constant tendency of air to equilibrium._
A. If the cool air of the polar regions did not rush into the torrid zone, _it would become so hot_, that no human being could endure it. If (on the other hand) the hot air from the torrid zone did not modify the polar regions, they would soon become _insufferably cold_.
Q. _Why are EAST WINDS in England generally DRY?_
A. Because, as they come over the _vast continents_ of Asia and Europe, they absorb _very little water_.
Q. _Why does their imbibing so little water make them DRY winds?_
A. Being thirsty when they reach our island, they readily imbibe moisture from the air and clouds; and, therefore, _bring dry weather_.
Q. _Why is the NORTH WIND in England generally COLD?_
A. The north wind comes from the _polar regions_, over mountains of snow, and seas of ice; in consequence of which, it is very _cold_.
Q. _Why are NORTH WINDS in England generally DRY and biting?_
A. As they come from regions _colder than our own_, they are _warmed by the heat of our island_; and (as their temperature is raised) _they absorb moisture_ from every thing they touch; in consequence of which, they are both _dry and parching_.
Q. _Why is the SOUTH WIND generally WARM in England?_
A. The south wind comes over the hot sandy deserts of Africa, and is heated by the land it traverses.
Q. _Why does the SOUTH WIND often bring us RAIN?_
A. The south wind (being much _heated_ by the hot sands of Africa) _imbibes water very plentifully_, as it pa.s.ses over the Mediterranean Sea and British Channel.
Q. _Why does the SATURATION of the south wind cause RAIN?_
A. As soon as it reaches our cold climate, _it is condensed_, and its vapour is squeezed out (as water from a wet sponge).
Q. _Why are WEST WINDS in England generally RAINY?_
A. The west winds come over the _Atlantic Ocean_, and are laden with _vapour_: if, therefore, they meet with the least _chill_, some of the vapour is squeezed out.
Q. _Why is a fine CLEAR DAY sometimes OVERCAST in a few minutes?_
A. Because some _sudden change of temperature_ has condensed the vapour of the air _into clouds_.
Q. _Why are CLOUDS sometimes DISSIPATED quite as suddenly?_
A. Because some _dry wind_ (blowing over the clouds) has _imbibed their moisture_, and carried it off in invisible vapour.
Q. _Why does a SOUTH-WEST wind bring us RAIN?_
A. As it comes from the _torrid zone_, and _crosses the ocean_, the hot wind is _laden with vapour_; and as some of the heat escapes (as soon as it reaches our northern island) the _vapour is condensed_, and precipitated as rain.
Q. _Why does a NORTH-EAST wind RARELY bring RAIN?_
A. As it comes from a climate _colder than our own_, its capacity for imbibing vapour is _increased_ when it reaches our island; in consequence of which, it _dries the air_, dispels the clouds, and promotes evaporation.
Q. _Why does WIND sometimes bring RAIN, and sometimes FINE weather?_
A. If the wind be _colder than the clouds_, it will condense their vapour into _rain_: if the wind be _warmer than the clouds_, it will _dissolve_ them, and cause them to disappear.
Q. _Why are MARCH winds DRY?_
A. Because they generally blow from the east or north-east; and, therefore, _sweep over the continent of Europe_.
Q. _What is the USE of MARCH winds?_
A. They _dry the soil_ (which is saturated with the floods of February), _break up the heavy clods_, and fit the land for the _seeds_ which are committed to it.
Q. _Why does "MARCH COME IN like a LION?"_
A. Because it comes in with _bl.u.s.tering east winds_, which are essential to dry the soil, which would otherwise _rot the seed_ committed to it.
Q. _Why does "MARCH GO OUT like a LAMB?"_
A. Because the water (evaporated by the high winds) falls again in _showers_ to fertilize the earth, and _breaks the violence of the winds_.
Q. _Why is it said that "A bushel of MARCH DUST is worth the king's ransom?"_
A. Because it indicates that there has been a continuance of _dry weather_; and unless _March be dry_, the seed will rot in the wet soil.
