Abstract
YOUR last number contains an article by Prof. Curtis on the “rain-making” experiments in Texas, in which no reference is made to the report published in the October number of the North American Review by General Dyrenforth, who directed the operations. I wish to call attention to the remarkable differences which exist between the statements of Prof. Curtis, the meteorologist of the expedition, and General Dyrenforth, its director. On August 10, Prof. Curtis, who had not yet arrived at the scene of the experiments, believes that only sharp showers or “good grass-rain” fell; General Dyrenforth says the amount was nearly 2 inches. On August 18, Prof. Curtis says that only 0˙02 inch of rain fell; General Dyrenforth says that “drenching rain fell in torrents for two and a half hours,” and that driving from the encampment to Midland, a distance of 25 miles, the road traversed was covered for 6 or 8 miles under 4 to 40 inches of water. It is impossible, under these circumstances, for those interested to come to any conclusion at present with regard to the actual results of the experiments. May I draw your attention further to an article which appeared in the Manchester Guardian of the 13th inst, in which a suggestion was made precisely similar to that put forward by Prof. Giglioli in your last number. If as seems probable, the experiments of Mr. Aitken amply suffice to explain any positive results obtained, it is evident that the explosions of hydrogen and oxygen, on which General Dyrenforth relies so much, are useless, and that the smoke-producing rackarock does all the work. In an extremely sceptical and very justly critical article, which follows that of General Dyrenforth in the North American Review, Prof. Simon Newcomb, while scouting the “concussion” theories of General Dyrenforth, says, indeed, that smoke particles may possibly serve as nuclei for the condensation of water vapour; but he is evidently unacquainted with the remarkable work of Mr. Aitken, which throws so much light on the matter.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
H. Rain-making Experiments. Nature 44, 614 (1891). https://doi.org/10.1038/044614a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/044614a0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.