The DeVentis of Theophrastus: Its Contributions to the Theory of Winds

Abstract

Because of his close association with Aristotle, the contributions to meteorology made by Theoplirastus have been overlooked and it has been often thought that Theophrastus simply enlarged and expounded upon the theories of Aristotle. A new English translation of De Ventis (On Winds) suggests that Theophrastus made a number of significant and innovative contributions to meteorological thought, while the greater empiricism and the inductive approach of De Ventis stands in contrast to the Metcorologica of Aristotle. By relegating the Aristotelian dry exhalation to a minor position in his anemology, Theophrastus is able to accept the Presocratic belief of wind as air in motion. In addition, Theapbrastus presents new theories for advection and for the causes of the horizontal motion of the winds. De Ventis, based upon a highly accurate observational base, also contains perceptive comments on climate change, and on local climatic peculiarities.