This accumulation of water must of course
find a vent somewhere, and it does in what is called the Gulf Stream,
by which the waters are poured out, running very strong to the
northward, along the shores of America, and then eastward, passing not
far from Newfoundland, until its strength is spent somewhere to the
northward of the Azores."
"The Gulf Stream, William," said Ready, "is always several degrees
warmer than the sea in general, which is, they say, owing to its waters
remaining in the Gulf of Mexico so long, where the heat of the sun is
so great."
"What do you mean by the land and sea breezes in the West Indies, and
other hot climates, papa?"
"It is the wind first blowing off from the shore, and then blowing from
the sea towards the shore, during certain hours of the day, which it
does regularly every twenty-four hours. This is also the effect of the
heat of the sun. The sea breeze commences in the morning, and in the
afternoon it dies away, when the land breeze commences, which lasts
till midnight."
"There are latitudes close to the trade-winds," said Ready, "where the
wind is not certain, where ships have been becalmed for weeks; the
crews have exhausted the water on board, and they have suffered
dreadfully.
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