American Journal of Science and Arts, Volume 11Kline Geology Laboratory, Yale University., 1826 |
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acid androgynis animal anthracite appears ascertained Axolotl banks Barton bituminous blowpipe body bottom bracts brown calyx carbonic chemical chyometer coal colour crater culm cylinder depth diameter distance divining rod earth edge erect fire flame fluid force fructibus fruit fuel half heat hydrogen hydrometer inches Island Lake Memphremagog lava leaves length liquid Long Lake longioribus Louis lower mass miles motion Mouna mountain Mud Lake muriatic acid nature nearly New-York oblong observations obtuse ovatis passed peat pistillate spikes piston plant Proteus Pursh quantity remarkable Rhode-Island rhodium rocks rostrate sand scabrous Schk Schw sessile sheaths shore side species specific gravity specimens Spica Spica staminifera spicis fructiferis spike single squama staminate spike stigmas three streams sulphur surface temperature ternis thermometer tion Torrey trees triquetrous tristigmaticis tube valve vapour variety volcanic Wahl weight wood
Popular passages
Page 21 - This vast tract of lava resembled in appearance an inland sea, bounded by distant mountains. Once it had certainly been in a fluid state, but appeared as if it had become suddenly petrified, or turned into a glassy stone, while its agitated billows were rolling to and fro. Not only were the large swells and hollows distinctly marked, but in many places the surface of these billows was covered by a smaller ripple, like that observed on the surface of the sea at the first springing up of a breeze,...
Page 23 - The surface of this plain was uneven, and strewed over with large stones and volcanic rocks, and in the centre of it was the great crater, at the distance of a mile and a half from the precipice on which we were standing. Our guides led us round towards the north end of the ridge, in order to find a place by which we might descend to the plain below.
Page 357 - Temperature may be conceived to depend upon the velocities of the vibrations; increase of capacity on the motion being performed in greater space; and the diminution of temperature, during the conversion of solids into fluids or gases, may be explained on the idea of the loss of vibratory motion, in consequence of the revolution of particles round their axes, at the moment when the body becomes liquid or aeriform, or from the loss of rapidity of vibration, in consequence of the motion of the particles...
Page 368 - ... channel, has since taken place, and sunk the abyss many hundred feet, to its present depth. The gulf below contains between fifty and sixty smaller conical craters, many of which are in constant action. The tops and sides of two or three of these are covered with sulphur of mingled shades of green and yellow ; with the exception of these the ledge, and every thing below it, is of a dismal black. The...
Page 23 - We walked on to the north end of the ridge, where the precipice being less steep, a descent to the plain below seemed practicable. It required, however, the greatest caution, as. the stones and fragments of...
Page 26 - Between nine and ten, the dark clouds and heavy fog, that since the setting of the sun had hung over the volcano, gradually cleared away, and the fires of Kirauea, darting their fierce light athwart the midnight gloom, unfolded a sight terrible and sublime beyond all we had yet seen. The agitated mass of liquid lava, like a flood of melted metal, raged with tumultuous whirl. The lively flame that danced over its undulating surface, tinged with sulphureous...
Page 31 - Perforated with innumerable apertures in the shape of craters, the island forms a hollow cone over one vast furnace, situated in the heart of a stupendous submarine mountain rising from the bottom of the sea...
Page 373 - ... mouth. The whole formed so singularly terrific an object, that, in order to secure a hasty sketch of it, I permitted the other gentlemen to go a few yards nearer than I did, while I occupied myself with my pencil. Lord Byron and his servant ascended the cone several feet, but found the heat too great to remain longer than to detach, with their sticks, a piece or two of recent lava, burning hot. So highly was our admiration excited by the scene, that we forgot the danger to which we might be exposed,...
Page 24 - ... feet lower. It was evident, that the large crater had been recently filled with liquid lava up to this black ledge, and had, by some subterranean canal, emptied itself into the sea, or upon the low land on the shore.
Page 368 - Two or three of the small craters, nearest to the north side, where we lodged, were in full action, every moment casting out stones, ashes and lava, with heavy detonations, while the irritated flames accompanying them glared widely over the surrounding obscurity, against the sides of the ledge and upper cliffs, richly illuminating the volumes of smoke at the south end, and occasionally casting a bright reflection on the bosomof a passing cloud.