Ocean Currents

Abstract

I OBSERVE that in NATURE, vol. ix. p. 423, Dr. A Carpenter re-states and maintains his opinion that polar cold rather than equatorial heat is the primum mobile of his general oceanic circulation. In my papers in the Philosophical Magazine for Oct. 1871 and Feb. 1874 I have proved, I trust, to the satisfaction of any physicist who will be at the trouble to examine what I have written on the subject, that this notion is based upon a confusion of ideas in regard to the way in which difference of specific gravity produces motion. It is not my object at present to enter into any further discussion of this elementary matter; but I wish briefly to refer to a new and somewhat plausible-looking objection advanced in Dr. Carpenter's article against the views I advocate in reference to under-currents. The following is the paragraph to which I refer:—