The Hurricane Guide

The Hurricane Guide

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Title: The Hurricane Guide Being An Attempt To Connect The Rotary
Gale Or Revolving Storm With Atmospheric Waves.
Author: William Radcliff Birt
Release Date: June 8, 2006 [EBook #18534]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE
HURRICANE GUIDE:
BEING

AN ATTEMPT TO CONNECT THE
ROTATORY GALE OR REVOLVING STORM
WITH
ATMOSPHERIC WAVES.
INCLUDING INSTRUCTIONS FOR OBSERVING THE
PHÆNOMENA OF THE WAVES AND STORMS;
WITH
PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR AVOIDING THE CENTRES OF
THE LATTER.
BY
WILLIAM RADCLIFF BIRT.
LONDON: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. PUBLISHER
TO THE ADMIRALTY. 1850.
PRINTED BY W. CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET.

PREFACE.
In introducing the following pages to the notice of the Public, it is the
Author's wish to exhibit in as clear a light as our present researches on
the subjects treated of will allow, the connexion between one of the
most terrific phænomena with which our globe is visited, and a
phænomenon which, although but little known, appears to be intimately
connected with revolving storms. How far he has succeeded, either in
this particular object or in endeavouring to render the essential
phænomena of storms familiar to the seaman, is left for the Public to
determine. Should any advantage be found to result from the study of
the Atmospheric Waves, as explained and recommended in this little

work, or the seaman be induced by its perusal to attend more closely to
the observations of those instruments that are calculated to warn him of
his danger, an object will be attained strikingly illustrative of the
Baconian aphorism, "Knowledge is Power."
Bethnal Green, April 19, 1849.

CONTENTS.
PAGE
CHAP. I.--PHÆNOMENA OF REVOLVING STORMS 7
" II.--PHÆNOMENA OF ATMOSPHERIC WAVES 13
" III.--OBSERVATIONS 18
SECT. I.--Instruments 19
" II.--Times of Observation 28
" III.--Localities for Additional Observations 31
" IV.--Storms, Hurricanes, and Typhoons 43
" V.--Seasons for Extra Observations 48
" IV.--PRACTICAL DIRECTIONS FOR AVOIDING THE CENTRES
OF STORMS 52

NOTICE.
In the pocket accompanying this work are two rings of stiff cardboard,
on which will be found all the information contained in figures 1 and 2.
When they are laid flatly upon a chart, the continuity of the lines on the
chart is not materially interfered with, while the idea of a body of air

rotating in the direction indicated by the arrows is conspicuously
presented to the mind. These rings are more particularly referred to on
page 52.

THE
HURRICANE GUIDE.
CHAPTER I.
PHÆNOMENA OF REVOLVING STORMS.
It is the object of the following pages to exhibit, so far as observation
may enable us, and in as brief a manner as possible, the connexion, if
any, that exists between those terrific meteorological phænomena
known as "revolving storms," and those more extensive and occult but
not less important phænomena, "atmospheric waves."
To the great body of our seamen, whether in her Majesty's or the
mercantile service, the subject can present none other than the most
interesting features. The laws that govern the transmission of large
bodies of air from one part of the oceanic surface to another, either in a
state of rapid rotation or presenting a more or less rectilineal direction,
must at all times form an important matter of inquiry, and bear very
materially on the successful prosecution of the occupation of the
voyager.
In order to place the subjects above alluded to in such a point of view
that the connexion between them may be readily seen, it will be
important to notice the principal phænomena presented by each.
Without going over the ground so well occupied by those able writers
on the subject of storms--Redfield, Reid, Piddington, and Thom--it will
be quite sufficient for our present purpose simply to notice the essential
phænomena of revolving storms as manifested by the barometer and
vane. The usual indications of a storm in connexion with these
instruments are the falling of the barometer and the freshening of the

wind, and it is generally considered that a rapid fall of the mercury in
the hurricane regions invariably precedes the setting in of a storm.
There are three classes of phænomena that present themselves to an
observer, according as he is situated on the line or axis of translation, or
in either the right or left hand semicircle of the storm. These will be
rendered very apparent by a little