Outlines of a mechanical theory of storms : $b containing the true law of lunar influence, with practical instructions to the navigator, to enable him approximately to calculate the coming changes of the wind and weather, for any given day, and for any part of the ocean

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                                OUTLINES

                                   OF

                     A MECHANICAL THEORY OF STORMS,

                               CONTAINING

                    THE TRUE LAW OF LUNAR INFLUENCE,

                                  WITH

           PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NAVIGATOR, TO ENABLE
                HIM APPROXIMATELY TO CALCULATE THE COMING
                    CHANGES OF THE WIND AND WEATHER,
                       FOR ANY GIVEN DAY, AND FOR
                         ANY PART OF THE OCEAN.


                             BY T. BASSNETT.

                    Ἡ δε μεσοτης εν πασιν ασφαλεϛερα

                                NEW YORK:
                         D. APPLETON & COMPANY,
                           346 & 348 BROADWAY,
                     AND 16 LITTLE BRITAIN, LONDON.
                                  1854.



       Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, by
                              T. BASSNETT,
       In the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New York.




CONTENTS.


SECTION FIRST.

Present State of the Science of Meteorology--Primordial Condition of the
  Solar System--Theory of Gravitation the great key of Nature--Bessell's
  doubts of its perfect adequacy--the Newtonian Vacuum: its
  difficulties--Nature of the element called Ether--The Medium of Space
  and the Electric Fluid--Ponderosity of Matter--Dynamical law of
  Equilibrium--Specific heat and its relation to space--A Plenum not
  opposed to Gravitation--The medium of space in motion--Formation of
  Vortices--A new principle developed--Elements of the problem--Hutton's
  theory of the production of rain--Indications of change and the
  cause--Action of the Ethereal Current--Physical process of Atmospheric
  Derangement--Redfield's theory of Storms: its difficulties--All storms
  are of brief duration and limited extent.                           13


SECTION SECOND.

Mechanical action of the Moon--The Moon's mass--Axis of the Terral
  Vortex affected by the Moon: its inclination and position: its
  displacement--An example of the principle--Corrections
  necessary--Milwaukie storm--New York storm--Ottawa storm--Liverpool
  storm--Names and recurring order of the storm-producing agents--Record
  of the weather--Second New York storm.                              58


SECTION THIRD.

Lunar influence rejected by the learned--Their conclusions not
  valid--Modifying causes in accordance with these principles--Years and
  seasons vary in character--Superficial temperature of different
  Planets--No storms on the planet Mars--Rotation the cause of Ocean and
  Atmospheric Currents--Pressure of the atmosphere and its regular and
  irregular variations--Terrestrial Magnetism--Internal Constitution of
  the Globe--Magnetic variations--Cause of these variations--Magnetic
  storms--Aurora Borealis: its altitude--Earthquakes; their possible
  connection with Storms.                                            101


SECTION FOURTH.

The solar spots--Law of periodicity compared with the theory--Existence
  of another planet beyond Neptune probable--Masses of the Sun and
  Planet yet uncertain--The Law of Gravitation not above
  suspicion--Proofs of this--The full of the Moon--Density of the
  Ethereal Medium: its law in the Solar Vortex--Bode's law of the
  planetary distances--Law of planetary density--Law connecting the
  present and former diameters of the planets--Disturbing action of the
  Ether--Kepler's third law not rigidly exact--Inconsistencies of
  Astronomers--Nature of light and heat--Distinction between light and
  heat.