METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, MARCH, 1866.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 247, 27 April 1866, Page 2

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, MARCH, 1866.

A most unfortunate month for the harvest, which is late heyond all precedent. Although the barometer was remarkably high and steady, the air was constantly saturated with moisture, the maximum point of the hygrometer being .reached on no fewer than eleven degs. The air •■was extremely cold as well as damp. The mean -^temperature was more than four degrees below the seven years' average, and on the 31st. the depression below the average was as great as 19 degree^. Heavy falls of rain occurred, the - hIU ißgh/ 1,024 inch,

0.853 inch. During the first twelve days the equinoctial gales blew very strongly from tne westward, veering from N.W. to S.S.W ; the force was greatest on the night of the Sth (N.W.) There was also a heavy gale from the W.S.W. on the 22nd and 23rd. Barometer— The mean pressure was 29.988 nches (reduced to sea level and standard temperature of 32 deg. Fahrenheit and corrected for capillary action) the highest yet recorded, j The reading waa above 30 inches on no fewer than 18 days in the month ; the maximum was 30.331 inches on the 3rd, the minimum 29.149 inches on the sth. Thermometer — The mean temperature of the air was 53.1 ; the lowest on record in March, and 4.2 degrees below the average of seven previous years. The highest day temperature was 74.6 deg. on the 14th, the lowest night temperature 25 deg. on the 31st, the severest frost ever known \ in March. . " ■ Hygrometer — The mean degree of atmospheric humidity was .79 — 1.00 representing complete saturation was,attained on 11 days. The mean temperature of evaporation was 49.9 deg., and of the dew point, 46.8 deg. Evaporation — Amount 2.311 inches, about half the precipitation. ' Radiation — Greatest solar 105 deg., on 14th, terrtstial 24 deg., on 31st. Cloud — Amount (mean) 0.60, 1.00 indicating total obscuration. Wind— General direction, W. N.W. and S.E., mean force 6. (1.3 2) Note. — I shall shortly publish a full report oi my operations taken in 1865, as compared with the seven years average.

CHARLES ROUS MARTEN, Director of Meteorological Stations. Martendale, 2nd April, 1866.

Wt GO h>l CD CO -a* 00 Ci CO 00 _ 2 — — 2 ; p b^ jr»© O <*J O ■<? © O .H 5 3 fe - • CD ** H f^o> co i> co co so oo co m 4 t* P->CO CO CO CO O> J> i3> tji 1-^ e3 i-l r-l rt i-H rH '"O fe ? : W rf 0000^^ 000 5 punoa-n io -oHisioooooo g 30BJOU8 tto junourp- a-*co-^<nro co -* oq g , ' o 08 aAoqra pooijs o ooohcdioin h -irv am io ti r i N - °? *°- o - -6 . saTX^Baaatua,!, uuajj p>n>ooio>o to to o I ~ -9V»3UQ j Sb^. °. °. P°.°- ? vi | p^ j> i> i> x> co oo oojxj ' — ' 5 i 3 r? « N >-l O C 5 CC)iX>CO«3CDCOCDiffI •noaBW oooooocooooooooo H r-( r-i r-t iH tH |H