In the summer season, most commonly of any, the air becomes hot and dry. The surface of the Earth loses the moisture of the air’s influence, together with the Sun’s heat evaporating the dampness, becomes generally arid17, and fails thereby18 to be a conductor of the moisture from below.
As a season of very dry atmosphere occurs for months at times, the soil becomes correspondingly dry and dusty to quite a depth. From this cause the springs and water in wells recede19 and sink away. It is an easy matter to find people who have witnessed the following seeming phenomena20 in times of drouth: After a period of weeks or months of drouth before any rainfall has occurred at all, the fountains, long dry, often commence to run, and wells begin to fill with water, and this without a drop of rain.
Just here comes the pleasant task of answering the question fully: How can this occur without a soaking rain?
At such times, when the Earth and all nature is thirsting for water, and every fountain seems to have dried up forever, the day will come which will bring these evidences.
The aged21 will complain of their rheumatism;[47] men’s bones will ache; geese will wash in the dust; the peacock will scream; birds, beasts and vegetation will feel a humidity in the air and intuitions that rain is near. As the atmosphere has felt the approach and preparation for rain some time in advance, so all Nature feels its effects. To illustrate22 the burned or dry condition of the air, you may consider this test: Take a pail of water, and a dry sponge, big as your head, and lay the sponge on the surface, and it will take a long time for the sponge to absorb the water and become fully saturated. Wet the sponge before the test and squeeze it dry as you can, and lay it on, and it will fill rapidly and quickly. Pour a pail of water on the floor and try the same experiment. Your sponge will not fill at all if dry, only a little as it comes in contact with the water; but moisten it as before, and press it nearly dry, and throw on the puddle23 of water, and it will drink itself full at once, drawing up the water like a pump. You cannot wipe up a floor with a dry sponge.
The springs and wells that have dried and receded24 a short distance from their usual level from lack of moisture in the air that penetrates25 the surface, quickly feel a returning moist condition and are drawn26 by the same influence upward[48] as the water climbs up through the damp sponge.
The atmosphere performs the same duty as the sponge, and this answers why the springs and wells resume running before a drop of rain has fallen, and which, when it comes in copious27 quantities, still adds to the general effect of making a stronger draft on the fountains below.
Another question proper to ask scientists is this: If the rainfall affects springs and lakes, how is it that the analysis of mineral springs in all quarters of the globe is not affected28 by every change of season? How can the waters of Saratoga, Carlsbad, Waukeska, Kissengen or of any other such spring be relied on for uniform assays29? How can this great variety of springs come in such near proximity30 to each other and possess such distinctive31 curative properties as at Saratoga, for example? Within a radius32 of two or three miles are springs, one of which is a cathartic33, another a diuretic, another emetic34, another tonic35, and so on, no two alike, but retain their individuality through all times, wet or dry? They are affected only in amount of flow by the same atmospheric36 conditions of either dryness or moisture, as just described.
When the atmosphere is heavily charged with moisture, it becomes a mammoth sponge, and[49] this condition of air, evidently, is what precipitates37 thunder showers in the summer. As all the hills and mountains are the result of water upheavals38, they are for this reason the reservoirs of water for watering the Earth, and therefore quicker to respond to atmospheric conditions than the plains.
It is almost without exception that thunder showers form their nucleus39 on the heads of mountains and the tops of hills.
After a shower let us see the condition and results. The face of Nature smiles after its refreshing40 wash; every tree and plant has drunk its foliage41 full of new life; the air’s sultriness has changed to freshness. All animated42 life seems to take a fresh lease, and as the clouds roll away and the quickly swollen43 streams rush to the rivers, lakes and oceans, it seems as if almost a deluge44 had passed by.
The remarks, “What a lovely shower!” “What a much needed rain!” “What lots of good it will do!” etc., pass between neighbors. Farmer Smith comes along and says, in reply to the shower being such a cracker45, that he went into his garden to set out cabbage plants, and down little over an inch the ground was dry as powder; that while this will do lots of good to grass,[50] and “sich,” it wants a good soaker to get down to the bottom of the potato hills.
Such is the history of most of our copious showers that flood everything for half an hour, but not a drop reaches the roots of forest trees of any depth, or does anything more than to temporarily wet and freshen the surface.
Such being the case on the prairies and unbroken plains, the evaporation46 of two or three days’ sun leaves them in almost the condition of a desert. This was the case in our new States, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and Indian Territory, which, now so productive, were, as our early Geography describes them, before the soil was broken to hold the rain for a while, the Great American Desert.
On a hot day the air in the valleys is still and suffocating47. Climbing up from the valley to the hill or mountain tops, you find a cool and refreshing breeze; the moisture in the air is becoming condensed. Here is where the philosophy of lightning seems to work a prominent part. The cold currents of air and moisture, collecting, seem to come in contact with this subtle and wonderful agent, and the result is like fire to powder, a vivid flash and explosion. Stand on the plain on a sultry day and watch that little white crest48 of what we call a[51] thunderhead. The farmer who has hay down will notice it with a little anxiety. The sailor will think of his sails, and the picnickers will think about going home. Soon a flash, and a dark base is forming. Soon the rumble49 of thunder is heard; the girls with their bonnets50 on begin to look worried. The captain on his yacht is giving orders to reef sails, and Farmer Jones and his boys are cocking and pitching hay for their lives.
The little white-capped clouds of an hour ago have turned into a black and threatening massed park of artillery51. Every discharge deepens and darkens the advancing column.
Just as the vessel’s sails are dropped and snugly52 reefed, just as the farmer rushes his team, with load of hay or grain, into his barn, and the picnic is almost under cover, the big drops of rain begin to patter. Another flash and quick report; a scream from the girls, nearly as sharp, and they rush for shelter, and down comes a torrent53 of rain.
A slight cessation, another flash, and, like shaking a tree of fruit, every electrical explosion seems to shake down a fresh reserve of rain drops. This is in keeping with the theory that after great battles the cannonading produces a copious rainfall.
[52]It is a method at times adopted by military garrisons54 when destitute55 of water, when the atmosphere is in a favorable condition for rain, to get out a battery of artillery and have a season of vigorous firing, and generally with successful results.
And while all this grand and complete arrangement supplies vegetation with its bathing and drinking, as said before, it has nothing to do with the living and lasting56 supply of our springs, lakes and rivers. They are fed from a never failing and almost unchanging source—that is, by the immense supply taken in at the polar holes in a river over 4,000 miles wide at each end of the Earth’s axis57.
That the presumption58 of rainfall furnishing the supply for all of our lakes, springs and wells has never been questioned seems almost discreditable to the observing talent of our age. Whatever the character of rainfall, either by protracted59 storm or sudden and copious showers, it cannot escape our notice that the largest portion of the water runs from the highlands to the lowlands into the gulches60 and small streams, and thence to the rivers, into the ocean; so that the percentage of water retained by the soil is much smaller than that which runs away.
In our Western prairies, the country formerly[53] called the Indian Territory, the soil was covered with an almost waterproof61 matting of grass roots, on which, when showers fell, the penetration62 was so slight that in a very few days evaporation left them parched63 and dried. Since the settling up of our territories, which were once termed deserts, the soil has been broken by the farmer’s plow64, thus admitting the rainfall to be longer retained in the surface soil, which fact has led to the development of lands once considered barren to become some of the most fruitful grounds in our domain65.
Another peculiar66 feature of climatic change may be mentioned here, whereas until recent years thunder showers and storms were almost unknown in many of our Western States and in the Pacific States also, till now these storms and showers, with their electrical disturbances67, are nearly as common as in older States.
Another feature of weather which has seemed to develop in recent years is that of milder winters in our Northern States and colder freaks in the Southern; snows and frosts reaching States which rarely ever had such experiences, and the burdens of snows becoming much less in States which always expected a long season of sleighing.
It is proposed to venture the following reasons[54] as conducive68 to much of this change in weather conditions of the country at large. First, the general denuding69 of our forests, which evidently has much influence on the water courses. Next, the settling up of the whole country, and location of cities and towns from ocean to ocean, all quite evenly distributed, and in a great portion of them large amounts of machinery70, composed of iron and steel, producing a great amount of friction71 and electrical influence in their workings; besides the almost innumerable fires from furnaces, factories and households, discharging their heat into the upper air. Again, the railroad system, with its millions of tons of steel rails, make a magnetic connection between every State and almost every county in forming one grand combination. The rush of thousands of trains all over the country, with their friction by wheels on the tracks, and the rush through the atmosphere, cannot fail to influence in largely equalizing the same. Still another potent72 influence must exist in the almost unlimited73 number of wires for telephone and telegraph purposes, which make all the electrical combinations more complete than anything else. If all these things combine, it does not seem strange that magnetic and electric currents and conditions of our weather throughout the country should be somewhat modified.
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1
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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sustenance
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| n.食物，粮食；生活资料；生计 | |
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subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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proprietors
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| n.所有人，业主( proprietor的名词复数 ) | |
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groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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8
requisite
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| adj.需要的，必不可少的；n.必需品 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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irrigate
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| vt.灌溉，修水利，冲洗伤口，使潮湿 | |
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saturated
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| a.饱和的，充满的 | |
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12
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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14
valid
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| adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的 | |
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mammoth
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| n.长毛象；adj.长毛象似的，巨大的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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recede
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| vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进 | |
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phenomena
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| n.现象 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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illustrate
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| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
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puddle
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| n.(雨)水坑，泥潭 | |
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receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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penetrates
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| v.穿过( penetrate的第三人称单数 )；刺入；了解；渗透 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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copious
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| adj.丰富的，大量的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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assays
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| n.化验( assay的名词复数 )；试验；尝试；试金 | |
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proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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distinctive
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| adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的 | |
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radius
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| n.半径，半径范围；有效航程，范围，界限 | |
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cathartic
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| adj.宣泄情绪的；n.泻剂 | |
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emetic
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| n.催吐剂；adj.催吐的 | |
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tonic
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| n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的 | |
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atmospheric
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| adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的 | |
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precipitates
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的第三人称单数 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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38
upheavals
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| 突然的巨变( upheaval的名词复数 )； 大动荡； 大变动； 胀起 | |
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nucleus
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| n.核，核心，原子核 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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41
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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42
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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45
cracker
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| n.（无甜味的）薄脆饼干 | |
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evaporation
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| n.蒸发，消失 | |
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suffocating
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| a.使人窒息的 | |
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48
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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49
rumble
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| n.隆隆声；吵嚷；v.隆隆响；低沉地说 | |
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50
bonnets
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| n.童帽( bonnet的名词复数 )；（烟囱等的）覆盖物；（苏格兰男子的）无边呢帽；（女子戴的）任何一种帽子 | |
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51
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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52
snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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53
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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54
garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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55
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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56
lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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57
axis
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| n.轴，轴线，中心线；坐标轴，基准线 | |
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58
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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59
protracted
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| adj.拖延的；延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词 | |
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60
gulches
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| n.峡谷( gulch的名词复数 ) | |
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61
waterproof
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| n.防水材料；adj.防水的；v.使...能防水 | |
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62
penetration
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| n.穿透，穿人，渗透 | |
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63
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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64
plow
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| n.犁，耕地，犁过的地；v.犁，费力地前进[英]plough | |
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65
domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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66
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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67
disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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68
conducive
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| adj.有益的，有助的 | |
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69
denuding
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| v.使赤裸( denude的现在分词 )；剥光覆盖物 | |
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70
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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71
friction
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| n.摩擦，摩擦力 | |
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72
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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