Jökull - 01.01.2001, Page 77

Observations on the dry fog in June 1783
the end of the month. Often the summit of the Alps
was clearly distinguished on the other side of the haze
but not, to be sure, the base. The rain did not disperse
the haze. It gave ground only to rain that was accom-
panied by thunder; even then with difficulty and only
for a short time. The east wind increased this haze
and only the stronger west wind was able to disperse
it. Indeed, as soon as this stopped the haze returned,
although one was not able to observe well whence it
had arisen. Finally, it was very dry.
The renowned Senebier, librarian in the state of
Geneva, on 15 July wrote to me, that there thence
from May a very great amount of rain fell, and a sin-
gular vapor was present, so dense, that it impeded
the view of distances of objects by an octant of light,
took away the rays of the rising and setting sun, and
tinged it with a red color. This vapor was very dry
and of a blue color. More violent winds and very co-
pious rains were unable to dissipate this vapor; more-
over at Geneva neither in the remaining meteorolog-
ical events, nor in emanation of vapor, nor in men’s
health, did the vapor have any influx.
The distinguished Felix Fontana from Florence
rendered me more certain, that this haze began in Cal-
abria on 13 February; but that it finally extended itself
throughout the rest of Italy at the beginning of June.19
It brought no damage to vegetation in Florence, but
on the contrary had roused forth much vegetation; it
had no odor, but sometimes it was such in Calabria
and Sicily that it obscured the sun, and tinged it with
a bloody red color. Finally the distinguished Fontana
found the air better than in other years.
The distinguished Toaldo noted that as July turned
to its end the haze withdrew all over Italy even in
Naples and Calabria, as if its center had been there.
He also notes that there was frequent thunder. Finally
the year 1765 at Saros20 itself, corresponding in this
peculiarity as in all the rest, had been similar, as I will
note when it is convenient. In Belgium in the year
1765 not many clouds had been observed, although
there had been much thunder, and the days were with
thick air. The distinguished Toaldo communicated to
me that at the end of December, that a haze (N.B. in
French brume) had been present, which took away the
view of the horizon in the distance of one day, and that
it lasted the whole month of July, to the end of August,
and some days of December itself, which haze had a
composition of the very haze in June, although it was
a little less dense, and whereby the air was heavy up to
this time. He added, that Neapolitan scientist had col-
lected that dust, which the haze had deposited on top
of the leaves of the trees, and that he had obtained to
the extent of 8 drachma [drachma = 41/2–6 grammes]
3 or 4 grains of iron, drawn by a magnet; that this haze
in certain places had burned the more tender plants;
had even brought a sense of burning to the eyes; but
in Italy it had brought forth a very great fertility in all
fruits of the earth. Let us note also, that on 20 July
at Tripoli in Syria a movement of the earth had been
observed; on the day before a very great abundance
of rain fell, an unusual thing in Syria at this time of
year; finally that thence from the end of June a very
dense haze had covered over the land and sea; that
the winds had blown as in winter–time; the sun could
be seen rarely, and always with a bloody color, which
was rare in Syria.
These are the principle observations, which were
noted from the beginning about this haze. It might be
permitted to add certain observations and criticism.
It was asked at first, whether a phenomenon of
this kind had ever been seen. I knew of none, but
Dr. Brugmannusn shared with me, that a similar haze
had been seen in 1652, and was described in a book
by Albert Leneman, entitled Deliciae calendario–
graphicae,21 published in 1654 at Copenhagen in
quarto. The author reports that, in the summer and au-
Fontana’s statement on presence of haze in Florence as early as February is inconsistent with all the other contemporary accounts con-
cerned with the first appearance of the haze and is undoubtedly wrong. At the time the earthquakes that effected Calabria in 1783 were a
popular explanation on the origin of the haze and this earthquake episode began on February 13 (Hamilton, 1783). Thus, it is most likely
that this date refers to the onset of this earthquake episode, not to the first appearance of haze at Florence. Fontana’s statement on haze
appearing in other parts of Italy in beginning of June is in support of this conclusion. The source of this error is not known at present, even
though it may have originated with Fontana himself.


Turkey?

Which may be translated as “Self-indulgences, illustrated in a ledger.”
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