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Benjamin Franklin: Declaration of Independence signer, meteorologist far ahead of his time

July 3, 6:09 PMCoastal Carolina Weather ExaminerGannon Medwick
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Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

The meteorological insight of Declaration of Independence signer Benjamin Franklin was decades - if not centuries - ahead of its time:

  • Through careful measurement of ocean temperature on his trans-Atlantic voyages, Franklin accurately charted the Gulf Stream ocean current.
  • Franklin - after pondering summer hailstones - accurately reasoned that the atmosphere cools with height.
  • Franklin accurately deduced that wind flow is often opposite of storm motion (Nor'easters actually move into a region from the southwest).
  • Franklin kept meticulous daily weather records which helped discern storm patterns in the Thirteen Colonies.
  • Franklin wrote extensive articles about fog, wind direction, and solar radiation.
  • Franklin linked lightning with electricity and invented an American version of the lightning rod.

 Benjamin Franklin links:

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