Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VIII THE CAUSES OF GLACIAL EPOCHS Vinous Suggested Causes--Astronomical Causes of Changes of Climate-- Difference of Temperature caused by Varying Distance of the Sun-- Properties of Air and Water, Snow and Ice, in Relation to Climate-- Effects of Snow on Climate--High Land und Great Moisture Essential to the Initiation of a Glacial Epoch--Perpetual Snow nowhere Exists on Lowlands--Conditions Determining the Presence or Absence of Perpetual Snow--Efficiency of Astronomical Causes in Producing Glaciation-- Action of Meteorological causes in Intensifying Glaciation--Summary of Canses of Glaciation--Effect of Clouds and Fog in cutting olf the Sun's Heat--South Temperate America as Illustrating the Influence of Astronomical Causes on Climate--Geographical Changes how far a Canse of Glaciation--Land acting as a Barrier to Ocean-currents--The theory of Intcrglacial Periods and their Probable Character--Probable Kffect of Winter in Aphelion on the Climate of Britain--The Essential Principle of Climatal Change Restated--Probable Date of the last Glacial Epoch--Changes of the Sea-level dependent on Glaciation--The Planet Mars as bearing on the Theory of Excentricity as a Cause of Glacial Epochs. No less than seven different causes have been at various times advanced to account for the glacial epoch and other changes of climate which the geological record proves to have taken place. These, as enumerated by Mr. Searles V. Wood, Jun., are as follows: -- 1. A decrease in the original heat of our planet. 2. Changes in the obliquity of the ecliptic. 3. The combined effect of the precession of the equinoxes and of the excentricity of the earth's orbit. i. Changes in the distribution of land and water. 5. Changes in the position of the earth's...
