CLIMATE OF GALLIPOLI

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2606, 30 October 1915, Page 12

CLIMATE OF GALLIPOLI

The following notes on the climate at Gallipoli have oecn prepared by Mr. H. A. Hunt, Commonwealth Meteorologist: Gallipoli, in latitude 40deg. N., is situated, in the Mediterannoan climatic province. Its climate is akin to that of Spain and Italy, and also closely resembles that, of the southern coast of Australia. The average annual temperature is 58deg. F., that of Melbourne being 58.3deg. F. Data for Gallipoli itself are not available, but the city of Constantinople is also situated at sealevel in tho same latitude, and only 120 miles to tho east; so that figures for tho capital will closely represent thoso at Galipoli. The chief .characteristics of' tho .Meditorannean climate aro the warm, dry summers, and cool, wet winters. Tho extremes of temperature are Jiofc 'arge, owing to coastal situations of the countries concerned.

Snow, falls on eighteen days in tho year in Constantinople, and on four days at Salonika. Other towns in tho interior of the Balkan Peninsula _ have, however, much more severe winters. Sofia (in Bulgaria) has a January average of plus 26deg. F., while its record minimum is — 24deg. P. (in January, 1893). Snow falls on 38 days in this city (For comparison it may bo noted that many localities on the Tasmtuiian plateau have more than ten days of snowfail in the year.) The following data on tho dominant winds will be of interest, in view of tho recent discussion of tho effect of winter storms in Gallipoli:—' January, N.E., offshore f r om Gallipoli. February, N.E., and variable. ' March, N.E., and variable. April, N.E., and variable. May, variable. June, N.E., and variable. July, N.E., and variable. August. N. 8., offshoro from Gallipoli. September, N.E., offshore from Gallipoli. October, N.E., offshore from Gallipoli. November, east, offshoro from Gallipoli. Docember, N.E., offshoro from Gallipoli. The dominant wind is, therefore, definitely an offshoro wind from tho northeast during the northern autumn and winter, and variable, but often northeast, during spring and summer. This is due to the presence of a high-pres-sure area whioh dominates tho Carpathians and the vicinity in tho colder months, lvooppen's map of Europe, showing the storm-tracks and their frequency, is especially enlightening. With the exception of the Straits of Gibraltar, the sons around Gallipoli are the least visited by storms during the year.