Annals of the Astronomical Observatory of Harvard College Volume 21-22 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ...observations at Cohasset, is of interest in this connection. He reports that the succession of winds ordinarily taking place on the south shore of Massachusetts bay in the fair summer weather is as follows. Before sunrise there is a steady light westrnorthwest breeze; about half an hour after sunrise this dies away, and fifteen or twenty minutes later a light east or northeast breeze springs up, apparently beginning from one to two miles from shore; it requires some time to reach the land. During the morning, the breeze gradually shifts around to the east and southeast, coming to the southeast as a steady moderate breeze about noon. About two or three o'clock in the afternoon, the wind shifts, after several uncertain attempts, quite suddenly to the southwest, and gradually increases in force, with many flaws, till about sunset. Then the flaws become infrequent, and after slowly shifting to the west, it settles down about nine o'clock, to the west-northwest again, where it holds all night, decreasing in force till morning. It would appear from a comparison of this excellent description with our records that it must be based on observations taken upon days when the rotation of the wind is hardly influenced by general gradients; and it is probable that such days as these are not very numerous. Similar testimony is borne by the following series of discriminating records made by Mr. Wm. C. Appleton, 2nd, at Cohasset on June 6th, 1885, in connection with the investigation of thunder-storms of that season. At 11 o'clock, while a moderate west-northwest wind blows on shore, a bark four miles out to sea is nearly becalmed, and several vessels eight or ten miles from shore are completely becalmed. At 11.25, the bark trims her sails to a breath from the northeast. At ...