McCormack, George J. - 1917 - Some Weather Fundamentals.pdf

8/20/2019 McCormack, George J. - 1917 - Some Weather Fundamentals.pdf

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Some Weather Fundamentals

By

George J. McCormack

he study of METEOROLOGY had its origin among the Egyptian

astronomers !ho "eing a#so astro#ogers !ere fami#iar !iththe re#ation "et!een astronomy and atmospheric phenomena.

Their $ie!s concerning %particu#ar constitutions of the atmosphere&as handed do!n to us "y 'to#emy ha$e !ithstood the test ofo"ser$ations co$ering centuries.T(n more recent generations such noted characters as )ep#er

*#amstead Tycho Brahe and other eminent scientists too numerous tomention here recogni+ed as their records pro$e the re#ation ofastronomy to atmospheric changes. (n ,r. Goad-s famous %stro/Meteoro#ogica& pu"#ished in 0121 a copy of )ep#er-s ,iary of astro/scientific o"ser$ations from June 32 0104 to ugust 5 0135 is

inc#uded on page 046 and the author fre7uent#y 7uotes from )ep#er.This !ork of !hich some fe! copies are sti## preser$ed a#socontains records of persona# astro/meteoro#ogica# o"ser$ations of ,r.Goad e8tending o$er a period of thirty years. This production hasser$ed as a "asis for numerous modern compi#ations. Com. R. .Morrison of the Roya# 9a$y :;adkie# (< and his !orthy successor ,r.. J. 'earce :;adkie# ((< ha$e together co$ered se$enty years ormore in$estigating the astro/scientific doctrines formu#ated "yphi#osophers of the o#den time and ha$e adduced remarka"#escientific proofs in support of astro/meteoro#ogy !hich cannot $ery!e## "e ignored. To get nearer home !e might mention Re$. (r# =icks

of >t. Louis !ho a#though emp#oying the he#iocentric system offorecasts has for the #ast three decades prognosticated a year inad$ance atmospheric phenomena that are unforeseen "y the professiona#physicist e$en a fe! hours prior to its effect. Our Go$ernmentmeteoro#ogists ha$e occasiona##y taken a f#ing at #ong distanceforecasts. (ncidenta##y ?sic@ Re$. =icks in 0566 predicted theGa#$eston *#ood as fo##o!sA %One of the decided storm periods for>eptem"er :0560< !i## fa## a"out the 1th to 00th.... (t !i## "e !iseto heed the signa#s of est (ndian hurricanes at this time.& =e thensent at his o!n and not Go$ernment e8pense copies of his forecastto a## postmasters a#ong the Gu#f coast ca##ing their attention to

the !arning !hich the after e$ent determined a year in ad$ance fu##y Dustified. The eather Bureau map of the Ga#$eston hurricanesho!s same to ha$e struck the *#orida coast on >eptem"er 1th thencethrough the Gu#f of Me8ico centra# Te8as and $eering east!ard toha$e #eft our territory in the 9e!found#and district on the 03th!hich must impress one as "eing more than a coincidence and a prettyc#ose $erification of the e8act period stated in the dates gi$en.The eather Bureau sensed nothing of the distur"ance unti# it !asa#ready under !ay yet !ith such testimonies as these e$er repeating



themse#$es in support of our theory the Go$ernment supportedmeteoro#ogist ridicu#e the idea of #ong distance forecasts.

Considering the $ast area of this country and conse7uent#y theinter$a# of time re7uired in transit for shipments of food/stuffsacross the continent the necessity for #ong range forecasts is 7uiteapparent. =o!e$er there shou#d "e no animosity "et!een the ad$ocate

of materia# doctrines and the de$otee of astra# correspondences forthere is a meeting point !here they might "e of mutua# ad$antage inthe diffusion of kno!#edge re#ating to causes and effects.

The great )ep#er appears to ha$e "een fu##y a!are of theuni$ersa##y e8isting preDudice against encroachments upon o#desta"#ished theories !hen he said after the comp#etion of his threefamous #a!s go$erning and regu#ating the p#anets that %the "ookcontaining them might !e## !ait a century for the reader as God had!aited si8 thousand years for an o"ser$er.&

*rom remotest anti7uity it has "een o"ser$ed that !hen p#anets arein conDunction or at certain ang#es in #ongitude !ith the >un theyproduce atmospheric conditions pecu#iar to their nature and 7ua#ity.The ancients attri"uted these atmospheric changes to the action of#ight and contended that each co#or of the so#ar spectrum hadcertain 7ua#ities of its o!n. (t !as o"ser$ed that the positi$e redray corresponded !ith configurations of Mars and that the negati$e"#ue ray predominated !hen >aturn !as e8erting his inf#uence. Theinte##igence of this hypothesis once fu##y $erified it "ecame amatter of induction for those mystic !orthies to continue theirana#ogy to the se$en functiona# p#anes of $i"ration as interpretedthrough the other p#anets and formu#ate those doctrines !hich ha$e"een handed do!n to posterity. (ndeed the Egyptians !ere so apt in

their kno!#edge regarding the $i"ratory force of #ight that theyapp#ied it !ith great faci#ity in the cure of diseases.

E$ery materia# partic#e gi$es a $i"ratory response according to theco#or $a#ue of the rays impressed upon it. The $i"ration thusinduced manifests itse#f in the atmosphere hence the energetic andstimu#ating red rays engender heat and drought in the earth !hichreact on the atmosphere and e#e$ate the temperature. The "#ue raycoo# and moist on te contrary decreases temperature increasesmoisture and produces decomposition. The #uminous princip#e ise$ery!here that of #ife itse#f and "eing unified in the >un source of #ife and heat. The so#ar or" then is the center ofattraction through !hich the magnetic $i"rations of the p#anetsmanifest themse#$es. nd so as the tiny ray of #ight is ref#ectedto us do !e find "#ended and fu##y capa"#e of ana#y+ation the astra#princip#es of the uni$erse.

hi#e genera# ru#es regarding the effects of the $ariousconfigurations and positions of the p#anets are gi$en in the astro/phi#osophica# te8t/"ooks "ut fe! !riters ha$e dea#t !ith fundamenta#princip#es "eyond the su"Dect of aspects !hen p#anets are in



conDunction para##e# of dec#ination 7uadrature opposition etc.transiting the e7uator or tropics or "eing stationary in apparentmotion. ssuming that most students are more or #ess fami#iar !iththese !e sha## content ourse#$es !ith considering the nature and7ua#ity of each p#anet.

The >un containing the se$en prismatic co#ors is considered the

prime mo$er of the atmosphere as in e$ery so#ar ray ref#ected iscomprised the se$en creati$e princip#es. =ence !hen the >un is inmaDor aspect !ith any p#anet the indi$idua# nature and 7ua#ity ofsuch p#anet are conDoined !ith the terrestria# magnetism. (n a##so#ar configurations the >un sign must "e considered. Thepredominating co#or of the >un is orange.

The Moon "eing $ery s!ift in motion forms during each day manyaspects !ith other so#ar p#anets and !hi#e so#ar and mutua#configurations gi$e a specific character to the atmosphere the Moonmarks the changes !hich occur throughout the day. >he go$ernsmoisture genera##y and fre7uent#y hastens atmospheric changes "y

trans#ating #ight to t!o p#anets comp#eting an aspect "et!eenthemse#$es. =er transits o$er the $arious p#anets and aspects tothose in the e7uator or tropics shou#d "e carefu##y noted. Thetheory of #unar forecasts is manifest#y !rong as predictions shou#dnot "e rendered from the >un or Moon so#e#y nor can any one ru#e "etaken as determinati$e for the testimonies surrounding any oneperiod are more or #ess comp#e8 a#though some predominant aspect !i##afford a c#ear key.

Mercury !ho in ancient mytho#ogy !as ca##ed %Messenger of theGods& is in nature co#d and dry and go$erns the !inds. Beingcon$erti"#e he recei$es the impression of any p#anet !hich he is

conDoined or configurated. =is conDunction !ith the >un producesgreat !inds more particu#ar#y !hen retrograde. Continuedo"ser$ations $erify the fact that many of our hurricanes in theMississippi a##ey coincide !ith such conDunctions. (n co#d seasonsMercury often produces s#eetF in !arm !eather his distur"ances aremore manifest in#and the !ind distur"ances originating most#y fromthe desert #ands or !here a$erage rainfa## is "e#o! norma#. Thus inthe ri+ona desert sand storms increase near a conDunction of >un andMercury. hen Mercury is configurated !ith Mars or ranus high !indsand stormy conditions are a#so o"ser$ed to occur from !est to east"ut attaining their ma8ima in the interior and diminishing in

$e#ocity to!ard the coast or #o!#ands. The predominating co#or ofMercury is $io#et and he imparts negati$e e#ectricity to theatmosphere !hich accounts for the e8cess of moisture fo##o!ing hightemperatures !hen conDoined !ith the >un.

enus attracts the south !inds produces humidity "arometricdepression and do!nfa## fo##o!ed "y drop in temperature hence in!inter her configurations !ith the >un de$e#op moisture drop intemperature and e$entua##y turning to sno!. The same conditionspre$ai# !hen enus transits the e7uator. hen enus adds her rays to



other storm testimonies f#oods fre7uent#y fo##o!. =er predominatingco#or is ye##o! and she generates positi$e e#ectricity.

Mars attracts the !est !inds 7uick#y e#e$ates the temperature andpromotes drought often so destructi$e to crops. hen !ith the >unthe rays of the so#ar or" are dri$en into the earth !ith greaterenergy. The greatest drought occurs !hen Jupiter is connected !ith

Mars. )no!ing the "urning nature of Mars one may readi#y assume !hyMars !hen posited in the fourth ang#e in the summer charts causesfires destructi$e of property and forests the #atter more so !hen inLeo. (n summer such spe##s of heat from the Mars inf#uence arefre7uent#y fo##o!ed "y marked reactions thus to restore thee7ui#i"rium. The ray of Mars is red and generates an e8cess ofpositi$e e#ectricity. O"ser$ations sho! ma8imum 7uantities ofnitrogen in the atmosphere under this inf#uence.

Jupiter mo$es the north !inds and resists moisture e8cept he "esituated in signs of that nature. n increase of o+one is noted!ith e#e$ation of temperature. Barometric pressure is usua##y a"o$e

the a$erageF the air "ecomes serene in$igorating hea#thfu# andc#ear a##o!ing o"Dects to "e o"ser$ed at greater distances thanusua#. The ray of Jupiter is indigo its nature "et!een that of Marsand >aturn each of !hich affect it strong#y the former "y heat the#atter "y co#d and a7ueous $apors.

>aturn attracts the east !inds promotes a7ueous $apors and hea$yc#ouds decrease of temperature according to geographica# #ocationand season !ith hea$iness of air. tmospheric distur"ances under>aturn are s#o! "ut genera# in their effects and more manifest inthe #o!#ands from !est to east. The ray of >aturn is "#ue impartsnegati$e e#ectricity and an e8cess of hydrogen in the atmosphere.

ranus is po!erfu##y magnetic and imparts negati$e e#ectricityha$ing $ery much the same inf#uence as >aturn though more sudden. genera# drop in temperature is o"ser$ed the air "ecomes "#eak andra! !ith "arometric depression and su"se7uent precipitation. Co#d!a$es in$aria"#y fo##o!. The co#or ray of ranus is the e8treme ofthe actinic $io#et.

9eptune-s inf#uence o!ing to its !atery character #eads one topresuppose an e8cess of moisture or do!nfa## "ut o"ser$ations from0213 to 0220 sho! the contrary in Eng#and. ,uring our #imitedo"ser$ations it appears to produce rapid changes and fre7uent#y hea$y

ga#es of !ind a#so inc#ining to humidity and atmospheric pressure"eyond norma#. (ts ray is the e8treme of the ca#orific red. Each ofthese #atter p#anets !hen connected !ith Mars has "een o"ser$ed toset up =ert+ian !a$es :kno!n to !ire#ess operators as %statics&<more especia##y if Mercury "e at the same time configurated !iththem.

(n a## !eather forecasts geodetic considerations enter into thepro"#em a#so time a##o!ance for storm formations that re7uire fromt!o to four days to make their continenta# transit. Before



prognostications "y astro/meteoro#ogy can "e localized !ith any greatfaci#ity the geography topography and geo#ogica# formation of$arious #oca#ities must "e determined. *or instance 9e! York City"eing surrounded "y a #arge "ody of !ater and su"Dect to a moistatmosphere is manifest#y sensi"#e to the configurations of the Moon.The reason for ascri"ing the ru#ership of the sign Cancer to 9e! Yorkis o"$ious. hi#e the south portion of 9e! York is much nearer tosea #e$e# than the northern part the former is more su"Dect tohumidity than the #atter hence !e fre7uent#y o"ser$e t!o e8istingconditions of atmosphere at the same time. Those !ho ha$e !itnessedthe $ast $ariety of atmospheric conditions in that city can "etterappreciate the sense of the a"o$e.

s moisture attracts moisture genera# storms in transit across thecontinent are fre7uent#y di$erted from their course "y "odies of!ater hence it fre7uent#y happens that distur"ances mo$ing north!arda#ong the t#antic Coast from the Gu#f or Cape =atteras !i##une8pected#y shift their course to the Great Lakes. Because of the

Mississippi "eing the #argest ri$er in#and the surroundingatmosphere charged !ith moisture and the mountain ranges on the !estfurnishing further ad$antages for condensation thereof one mayreadi#y infer the reason !hy aspects operate there so c#ose to time.

(n Maine !here the forests so 7uick#y attract moisture therainfa## a$erages HI inches per year. t 9ea# Bay ash. in oneyear 0H6 inches ha$e "een recorded "ut in certain parts of ri+onathe year#y rainfa## se#dom e8ceeds t!o inches. Thus in forecastingthe genera# character of the !eather for any time due considerationmust "e gi$en to the #oca#ity. (n the northeastern states an aspectof >aturn might indicate precipitation and the east !ind !ou#d

continue to "#o! for some hours unti# it met another current of airnear Cape =atteras. The storm !ou#d then commence to operates!eeping north!ard and not reaching the northeast states unti# a dayor t!o after the aspect is e8act.

E$en under the conDunction of Mercury !ith >un !hich is morepotent in the Mississippi a##ey in causing $io#ent !ind distur"ancesand storm centers the ga#es may not reach the eastern coast unti#t!o or three days after the aspect. The !ind might attain a $e#ocityof 03I mi#es per hour in#and !here this com"ination is moreeffecti$e "ut as it neared the moist atmosphere of the coast might"e reduced to a $e#ocity of 16 to 46 mi#es per hour.

(n considering Jupiter !hich signifies the 9. and 9.. inds hisaspects in !inter tend to #o!er temperature in the east as these!inds reach us from the sno!/c#ad sections and the co#d groundsin#and. (n summer these same !inds for our eastern sections shou#d"e the re$erse as the soi# is then "aked and dry. The >aturn east!inds in !inter months for the t#antic >tates inc#ine to hightemperatures a#ong the east coast "ecause coming off the !ater !hich is !armer than the #and at this period of the year and fromthe Gu#f >tream. But on reaching the interior the >aturn !inds in



passing o$er the frosty earth !ou#d inc#ine to #o! temperatures.

By the same reasoning things shou#d "e Dust the re$erse a#ong the!estern coast as the east !inds there come from the co#d heights ofthe Rockies. There is a characteristic responsi$eness of atmosphericphenomena not on#y to features of topography "ut to geo#ogica#formations. The same aspect !i## thus act different#y in different

sections of the country according to these considerations and astro/meteoro#ogy can "e studied !ith profit on#y !ith kno!#edge of thesefacts. n aspect a#ong a gi$en para##e# !ou#d produce one 7ua#ity of!eather in upper 9e! York state another o$er the coa# fie#ds of'ennsy#$ania and yet another in the #o!#ands of the >outh a## inthe same range of #ongitude and under the same siderea# impact.

The ru#es of astro/meteoro#ogy cannot "e safe#y fo##o!ed !ithoutthese $arious considerations and a con$ersancy !ith !eather physicsgenera##yA Dust as the astro#ogian !ho kno!s the theory and practiceof medicine !i## "e a"#e to app#y the science to diagnosis andtreatment of disease !ith more faci#ity than the one !ho kno!s naught

of therapeuticsF simi#ar#y a kno!#edge of market potentia#s isnecessary to make an inte##igent app#ication to specu#ati$e ranges.

stro/meteoro#ogy as app#ied to #imited areas such as the British(s#es is comparati$e#y a %soft& proposition and shou#d "e easi#ymastered and uti#i+ed. But o$er these nited >tates the temperature$ariations more often than not run to e8tremes. *or e8amp#e onJanuary 34 0501 the thermometer readings "et!een *#orida and 9orth,akota re$ea#ed mere#y a #itt#e differentia# $ariation of 0HK t9e! York the g#ass registered 11.IKF mean!hi#e the estern >tates!ere gripped in a "#i++ard that sent the mercury "e#o! +ero in some#oca#itiesF at =a$re Montana it reached IHK "e#o! and !ith a co#d

!a$e e8tending a## the !ay from Te8as to the >tate of ashington. tthe preceding 9e! Moon ca#cu#ated for 9e! York Cancer cu#minated!ith Li"ra on the ascendant and the #uminaries conDoined in the#o!er meridian in opposition to an e#e$ated >aturn. The meantemperature for the month !as I.3 a"o$e norma# !hi#e the amount ofprecipitation recorded !as 0.2 inches or .45 inches "e#o! norma#.This #unar period contained se$en c#ear days ten part#y c#oudy andfourteen hea$i#y o$ercast a $ery definite $erification of the>aturn inf#uence.

The figures for the four so#ar ingresses shou#d ho!e$er "ead$erted to "efore reso#$ing Dudgment on #unations. Thus indetermining the $ariety of temperature pre$a#ent throughout thecountry during the !inter 7uarter forementioned it is to "e notedthat at the ru#ing so#ar ingress at ashington no p#anets occupiedthe #o!er ang#e Jupiter cu#minated enus !as $espertine !ith Moonrising in conDunction !ith >aturn "ut app#ying to a trine aspect ofJupiter. But the chart for the same ingress erected for 006K !est#ongitude sho!s ranus cu#minating and Mars in fourth ang#e a#thoughthe #atter turned retrograde $ery short#y thereafter and Mercurythe "#i++ard "reeder "ecame stationary in the +enith :in 7uarius<



on January 34th !ithin or" of an opposition to Mars at the ingressand so ga$e testimony of the storm conditions o$er that area.

The position of Mercury in the fourth ang#e se8ti#e ranus at theinter >o#stice of 0224 ena"#ed astro/meteoro#ogists e$en in Europeto forecast months in ad$ance our remarka"#e "#i++ard of March 030222. The M. C. of this figure !as the first degree of Gemini !ith

IK irgo ascending. The moon !as setting in c#ose s7uare to 9eptunefrom fi8ed signs and accentuated on the day of the "#i++ard !ith a#unation in the !estern ang#e of the (ngress figure.

nti# 7uite recent#y our students "oth here and a"road ha$eattempted to determine the character of our !eather from chartserected for ashington. This is manifest#y a #imited $ie!point asfigures shou#d "e ca#cu#ated for each fifteen degrees of thecountry-s meridians using the $arious #atitudes re7uired. O"$ious#ythe ang#es of a 9e! York figure !ou#d differ great#y from one"e#onging to the !estern coast.

Charts for the 7uarter#y phases of te Moon !i## supp#y additiona#facts in prognosis though the integrity of the neomenia itse#f is to"e maintained as a $antage point the p#anets then in ang#es "eincriteria of the first !eek-s out#ook in particu#ar more so at suchtimes as the Moon sha## "e in aspect thereto.

*rom a specu#ati$e and !hy not #ogica# / standpoint the su"#unarsystem is not !ithout many physio#ogica# para##e#s. Thus the ri$ersmay "e compared to the arteria# system and a##otted to the ru#ershipof Jupiter. 9e! Or#eans as the %Crescent City& and "ecause of itsgeographica# characteristics may "e assigned to Cancer and the MoonFthe Rockies and the p#ains of ri+ona might share the ru#ership of

LeoF the coa# fie#ds of 'ennsy#$ania "e p#aced under >aturn a#though'itts"urgh itse#f on account of its stee# industry is strong#yaffected "y the rays of Mars. >imi#ar#y any p#anet in the fourthang#e as representing conditions of the ground must operate moredecisi$e#y upon the terrine "atteries than if in other positions andmore forci"#y in some sections of the country than in othersaccording to a com"ination of p#anet and topography as for instancemars in the fourth ang#e in a chart "earing ru#e o$er 'ennsy#$ania!ou#d pro"a"#e e8cite atmospheric phenomena of a character signified"y Mars conDunction >aturn. nd so of other territories according to#oca# p#anetary ru#ership. The sum and su"stance of the matter isthe earth attracts or repe#s rays in accordance !ith the nature ofits formations in specific #oca#ities and as consistent#y as manhimse#f upon !hom the stars impress their inf#uence in measure andkind according to his constitutiona# suscepti"i#ity. The importanceof this point is not to "e ignored if !eather pro"a"i#ities are to "eproper#y !eighed and ana#y+ed.

(f our Go$ernment meteoro#ogists !ou#d de$ote more time and gi$emore attention to cosmic causes their ta"u#ation of physica# effects!ou#d take on more significance and !ork to a "etter purpose.



(nstead the most !e are a"#e to #earn from them is that some formerrecord has "een "roken or -near#y so&. recent !orthy for amoment enticed from his kindergarten notations $ery sapient#yo"ser$ed that %cyc#ones are caused "y trade !inds def#ected or turnedout of their course& and that %in the Me8ican Gu#f they are caused"y the north/east trade !inds def#ected "y the o$erheating of theMississippi a##ey.& 9o! may !e in7uire !hat causes the o$er/heating of the Mississippi a##ey

(n the app#ication of the tenets of the astro/meteoro#ogy genera#ru#es though c#ose#y fo##o!ed !i## gi$e on#y comparati$e resu#ts.s in a## fie#ds of in$estigation practice o"ser$ation and theprofound facu#ty of induction are essentia#s to re#ia"#e Dudgment.stro#ogy as !ith other a$enues of science ca##s for thespecia#ist as indicated in the fact that one student temperamenta##y7ua#ified for !eather determinations !i## reach a$erages !hichanother #acking in the facu#ty might stri$e in $ain to emu#ate. ndin this one department of the ste##ar science the specia#ist is as

necessary as he is in medicine in art in mechanics etc. for heneeds and shou#d ha$e carefu# training and e8perience in the domainof genera# physics the "etter to comprehend and to unra$e# thecomp#e8ities that so eterna##y o"tain "et!een the regions of the airand those of the earth.

( ha$e made reference to geo#ogica# characteristics in connection!ith p#anetary phenomena as "eing of $ita# importance in !eatherprognosis. (ndeed a significance attaches to this one fact thatmight !e## "e ragarded as the supreme sine qua non in any seriousstudy to "e made of the su"Dect. (t in$o#$es certain fundamenta#sthat consistent#y #ead one into metaphysica# rea#ms !herein the

earth itse#f must "e $ie!ed as a cosmos !ith its terrestria# sunmoon and p#anets acting in order#y response to macrocosmicimpingements. *rom !hich $ie!point it "ecomes easi#y apparent thata## ce#estia# phenomena are inter/re#ated !ith cognate forces in thete##uric system and must "e considered in com"ination there!ith.*or e8amp#e any aspect in the hea$ens that might in any !ise "e madeapp#ica"#e to a particu#ar section as 'ennsy#$ania for instancemust "e taken as in association !ith the >aturn princip#e thatinheres in the coa# deposits of that region. Tru#y a condition andnot a theory "ut one that !ou#d re7uire for its proper ana#ysis ande8p#oitation a more e8tended treatment than can "e entered into here.

The 7uestion in$o#$ed is a $ery #ogica# one and shou#d open out ane! fie#d for the earnest student !ho !ou#d fain scrutini+e andponder a## the e#ements in 9ature-s #a"oratory !hether in the canopya"o$e or the regions "eneath.

SOURCE: "Year Book of the American Academy of Astrologians ", Hermetic !lishing Com#any, $e% York, &'&(, #ages )( * ('+

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McCormack, George J. - 1917 - Some Weather Fundamentals.pdf