Unpublished paper, 'On the forces that produced the great currents of the air and of the oceans' by Thomas Hopkins

Description

Hopkins explains that there is at present no satisfactory evidence in books of what the immediate causes are of the great currents of the air and of the ocean. He maintains that the liberated heat of condensing vapour is the cause of these currents. He proceeds to show that all the great winds terminate in comparative vacua created in particular localities where much vapour has been condensed; and contends that such vacua enable and cause heavier air to press and flow towards the parts which have been rendered light, thus making heat the disturbing power in the aërial ocean, and leaving gravitation to act to restore an equilibrium. The great primary currents of the ocean are also described, and are shown to be so situated as to be under the influence of the principal winds, which, in their passage over the waters, press on them, and force them forward as currents.Hopkins maintains these currents to be of a velocity, extent, and depth proportioned to the strength and continuity of the wind, showing that the pressure of the air on the water, whilst moving over it, is capable of producing the movement which takes place. When, however, water is put into motion, it may be obstructed by land, and turned from its direct course, and in that way be made to form secondary currents. Hopkins contends that heat of vapour, set free in the atmosphere, is the force which disturbs the equilibrium of pressure, and either directly or indirectly produces all the great continuous movements that take place both in the atmosphere and the ocean.

Subject: Physics

Received 2 December 1859. Communicated by James Prescott Joule.

Whilst the Royal Society declined to publish this paper in full, an abstract of the paper was published in volume 10 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'On the forces that produce the great currents of the air and of the ocean'.

Reference number

AP/42/11

Earliest possible date

1859

Physical description

Ink on paper

Page extent

16 pages

Format

Manuscript