The Aleutian low is a sub-arctic belt of low pressure that stretches across the North Pacific and is centred over the Aleutian Islands. It is separated by an area of relatively high pressure over the North Pole from a similar North Atlantic low pressure belt centred over Iceland. The Aleutian lows are most intense during mid- winter. Research Aleutian Low
The Austin A90 Atlantic was the first British car designed specifically for the American market. The Austin A90 Atlantic was produced as a convertible with a power-operated hood and as a saloon model, from 1948 to 1952. It was powered by a 2660 cc OHV in-line four engine providing 88 bhp and a top speed of 145 kmh. The Austin A90 Atlantic could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 16.6 seconds and could achieve a fuel consumption of 25 mpg. Research Austin A90 Atlantic
Blood-rain is the name given to showers of grayish and reddish dust mingled with rain which occasionally fall usually in the zone of the earth which extends on both sides of the Mediterranean westwardly over the Atlantic, and eastwardly to Central Asia. The dust is largely made up of microscopic organisms, especially the shells of diatoms; the red colour being owing to the presence of a red oxide of iron. Research Blood-Rain
The Gulf Stream is a well-known oceanic current, so called because it issues from the Gulf of Mexico. It owes its origin to the fact that the westward moving waters of the tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean, encountering the eastward projection of South America, become divided into two currents, one setting southwards along the Brazilian coast, and the other northward past the mouths of the Amazon and Orinoco, into the Caribbean Sea. It then enters the Gulf of Mexico, and thence emerges through the Channel of Florida as the Gulf Stream. Its course is next to the north and eastwards, in a direction parallel to the coast of the United States, past Cape Hatteras, along the southern edge of the 'great banks' of Nantucket and Newfoundland (between the meridians of 48 and 60 degrees west), after which its course as a distinct current is less obvious.
In the earlier part of its course, especially when rounding the extremity of Florida, the Gulf Stream forms a well-defined current, distinguished by its high temperature and its deep blue or indigo colour. On account of the descent of the Polar or Baffin Bay current along the coast in a direction opposite to that of the Gulf Stream, the water on its inland side is colder than that to the eastward of it. The difference of temperature between the Gulf Stream and this cold current sometimes amounts to 20 or even 30 degrees Fahrenheit
The velocity of the Gulf Stream varies with its course. Within the Florida Channel it attains a mean of 65 miles per day, this sinks to 56 miles off Charleston, becomes 36 miles to 46 off Nautucket, and 28 miles to the south of the Newfoundland Banks; 300 miles to the eastward of Newfoundland its movement is hardly perceptible. At the bottom of the Florida Channel the observed temperature is 34 degrees that of the surface from 80 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Research Gulf Stream
An iceberg is a mass of ice that has broken off from a glacier and is afloat in the sea. They are in fact pieces of glaciers detached from the parent mass by the action of the sea and by their own accumulating weight. They present the strangest and most picturesque forms, are sometimes miles in length, and rise to a height of perhaps 250 or 300 feet above the sea, the portion above water being calculated at about an eighth of the whole. Icebergs consist of clear, compact, solid ice, with a bluish-green tint. Their cavities contain fresh water, from the melting of the ice. They are frequently encountered in the North Atlantic and in the southern seas as well, and have caused many a wreck - the most famous perhaps being the Titanic which sank after striking an iceberg. The ice that forms on the surface of the sea, called field-ice, is porous, incompact, and imperfectly transparent. The field-ice forms in winter and breaks up in summer. A small field is called a, floe; one much broken up forms a pack. A piece of ice that breaks off from an iceberg is called a calf. Research Iceberg
The Massachusetts Company was an English colony in North America. On March the 19th, 1628, there was granted to six patentees, of whom John Humphrey and John Endicott were destined to be most prominent, territory in America extending from the Atlantic to the Western Ocean, and in width from a line running three miles north of the Merrimac to one running three miles south of the Charles. This was the Massachusetts Bay Company. John Endicott was sent over the same year and effected a settlement at Naumkeag, or Salem, on September the 6th. On March the 4th, 1629, a charter was granted to the Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay, and under this instrument Massachusetts conducted her affairs for fifty-five years. The colony was ruled by the Governor and thirteen councillors. The charter was transferred from England to America with Winthrop. Research Massachusetts Company
Trade Winds are persistent winds blowing towards the equator, from the north-east in the northern hemisphere and the south-east in the southern hemisphere. Trade winds occur in the Atlantic Ocean and in the Pacific Ocean near the west coast of America. Research Trade Wind
The anchovy is a small fish (Engraulis encrasicholus) of the herring family. It is fished extensively, being abundant in the Mediterranean, and is also found on the Atlantic coast of Europe and in the Black Sea. It grows to 20 centimetres. Pungently flavoured, it is processed into fish pastes and essences, and used as a garnish, rather than eaten fresh. Research Anchovy
The Atlantic Central American Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum polyzona) is a species of Milk snake distinguished by white scales around the nostrils on a black coloured snout, and found in tropical rainforests. Research Atlantic Central American Milk Snake
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Aleutian Low
