贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > meteorology >

第16章

meteorology-第16章

小说: meteorology 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!





distant from one another in space; and points diametrically opposite



are most distant from one another; those winds must necessarily be



contrary to one another that blow from opposite ends of a diameter。



  The names of the winds according to their position are these。



Zephyrus is the wind that blows from A; this being the point where the



sun sets at the equinox。 Its contrary is Apeliotes blowing from B



the point where the sun rises at the equinox。 The wind blowing from H;



the north; is the true north wind; called Aparctias: while Notus



blowing from O is its contrary; for this point is the south and O is



contrary to H; being diametrically opposite to it。 Caecias blows



from Z; where the sun rises at the summer solstice。 Its contrary is



not the wind blowing from E but Lips blowing from G。 For Lips blows



from the point where the sun sets at the winter solstice and is



diametrically opposite to Caecias: so it is its contrary。 Eurus



blows from D; coming from the point where the sun rises at the



winter solstice。 It borders on Notus; and so we often find that people



speak of 'Euro…Noti'。 Its contrary is not Lips blowing from G but



the wind that blows from E which some call Argestes; some Olympias;



and some Sciron。 This blows from the point where the sun sets at the



summer solstice; and is the only wind that is diametrically opposite



to Eurus。 These are the winds that are diametrically opposite to one



another and their contraries。



  There are other winds which have no contraries。 The wind they call



Thrascias; which lies between Argestes and Aparctias; blows from I;



and the wind called Meses; which lies between Caecias and Aparctias;



from K。 (The line IK nearly coincides with the ever visible circle;



but not quite。) These winds have no contraries。 Meses has not; or else



there would be a wind blowing from the point M which is



diametrically opposite。 Thrascias corresponding to the point I has



not; for then there would be a wind blowing from N; the point which is



diametrically opposite。 (But perhaps a local wind which the



inhabitants of those parts call Phoenicias blows from that point。)



  These are the most important and definite winds and these their



places。



  There are more winds from the north than from the south。 The



reason for this is that the region in which we live lies nearer to the



north。 Also; much more water and snow is pushed aside into this



quarter because the other lies under the sun and its course。 When this



thaws and soaks into the earth and is exposed to the heat of the sun



and the earth it necessarily causes evaporation to rise in greater



quantities and over a greater space。



  Of the winds we have described Aparctias is the north wind in the



strict sense。 Thrascias and Meses are north winds too。 (Caecias is



half north and half east。) South are that which blows from due south



and Lips。 East; the wind from the rising of the sun at the equinox and



Eurus。 Phoenicias is half south and half east。 West; the wind from the



true west and that called Argestes。 More generally these winds are



classified as northerly or southerly。 The west winds are counted as



northerly; for they blow from the place of sunset and are therefore



colder; the east winds as southerly; for they are warmer because



they blow from the place of sunrise。 So the distinction of cold and



hot or warm is the basis for the division of the winds into



northerly and southerly。 East winds are warmer than west winds because



the sun shines on the east longer; whereas it leaves the west sooner



and reaches it later。



  Since this is the distribution of the winds it is clear that



contrary winds cannot blow simultaneously。 They are diametrically



opposite to one another and one of the two must be overpowered and



cease。 Winds that are not diametrically opposite to one another may



blow simultaneously: for instance the winds from Z and from D。 Hence



it sometimes happens that both of them; though different winds and



blowing from different quarters; are favourable to sailors making



for the same point。



  Contrary winds commonly blow at opposite seasons。 Thus Caecias and



in general the winds north of the summer solstice blow about the



time of the spring equinox; but about the autumn equinox Lips; and



Zephyrus about the summer solstice; but about the winter solstice



Eurus。



  Aparctias; Thrascias; and Argestes are the winds that fall on others



most and stop them。 Their source is so close to us that they are



greater and stronger than other winds。 They bring fair weather most of



all winds for the same reason; for; blowing as they do; from close



at hand; they overpower the other winds and stop them; they also



blow away the clouds that are forming and leave a clear sky…unless



they happen to be very cold。 Then they do not bring fair weather;



but being colder than they are strong they condense the clouds



before driving them away。



  Caecias does not bring fair weather because it returns upon



itself。 Hence the saying: 'Bringing it on himself as Caecias does



clouds。'



  When they cease; winds are succeeded by their neighbours in the



direction of the movement of the sun。 For an effect is most apt to



be produced in the neighbourhood of its cause; and the cause of



winds moves with the sun。



  Contrary winds have either the same or contrary effects。 Thus Lips



and Caecias; sometimes called Hellespontias; are both rainy gestes and



Eurus are dry: the latter being dry at first and rainy afterwards。



Meses and Aparctias are coldest and bring most snow。 Aparctias;



Thrascias; and Argestes bring hail。 Notus; Zephyrus; and Eurus are



hot。 Caecias covers the sky with heavy clouds; Lips with lighter ones。



Caecias does this because it returns upon itself and combines the



qualities of Boreas and Eurus。 By being cold it condenses and



gathers the vaporous air; and because it is easterly it carries with



it and drives before it a great quantity of such matter。 Aparctias;



Thrascias; and Argestes bring fair weather for the reason we have



explained before。 These winds and Meses are most commonly



accompanied by lightning。 They are cold because they blow from the



north; and lightning is due to cold; being ejected when the clouds



contract。 Some of these same bring hail with them for the same reason;



namely; that they cause a sudden condensation。



    Hurricanes are commonest in autumn; and next in spring: Aparctias;



Thrascias; and Argestes give rise to them most。 This is because



hurricanes are generally formed when some winds are blowing and others



fall on them; and these are the winds which are most apt to fall on



others that are blowing; the reason for which; too; we have



explained before。



  The Etesiae veer round: they begin from the north; and become for



dwellers in the west Thrasciae; Argestae; and Zephyrus (for Zephyrus



belongs to the north)。 For dwellers in the east they veer round as far



as Apeliotes。



  So much for the winds; their origin and nature and the properties



common to them all or peculiar to each。







                                 7







  We must go on to discuss earthquakes next; for their cause is akin



to our last subject。



  The theories that have been put forward up to the present date are



three; and their authors three men; Anaxagoras of Clazomenae; and



before him Anaximenes of Miletus; and later Democritus of Abdera。



  Anaxagoras says that the ether; which naturally moves upwards; is



caught in hollows below the earth and so shakes it; for though the



earth is really all of it equally porous; its surface is clogged up by



rain。 This implies that part of the whole sphere is 'above' and part



'below': 'above' being the part on which we live; 'below' the other。



  This theory is perhaps too primitive to require

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的