Meteorological observations and essays / By John Dalton.

  • John Dalton
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Meteorological observations and essays / By John Dalton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    117/280 (page 91)
    axis, the air over the torrid zone, and particularly about the equator, would have been in effect stag- nant ; and in the other zones the winds would have had little variation either in strength or direction ; navigation, in this case, would have been greatly impeded, and a communication between the two hemispheres, by sea, rendered impracticable. On the present system of things, however, the irregu- larity of winds is of the happiest consequence, by being subservient to navigation ; and a general circulation of air constantly takes place between the eastern and western hemispheres, as well as between the polar and equatorial regions ; by reason of which, that diffusion and intermixture of the different aerial fluids, so necessary for the life, health, and prosperity of the animal and vegetable kingdoms, is accomplished :—such is the tran- scendent wisdom and providential care of the com- mon FATHER OF ALL. PROOF OF THE EARTH’S ROTATION. The trade winds being matter of fact, if the me- chanical principles we have explained them upon be admitted, we may draw from hence a very satisfactory, and indeed conclusive argument for the earth’s rotation on its axis ; for, the trade winds blowing from east to west, we must conclude, @ posteriori, that the earth revolves the contrary way, or from west to east.