THE WEATHER.— AURORAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4395, 14 December 1875, Page 2

THE WEATHER.— AURORAS.

I>~ reviewing the exceptional weather of last week, it is, perhaps, advisable to point out a circumstance in connection with it which I have not seen noticed by any observer in the journals. On the morning of the Sth, at 1 h. 15 m. o'clock, I noticed a somewhat brilliant aurora in the S.S.W. portion of the heavens, which shot occasionally upward to an altitude of 25 deg., and then as suddenly descended below the horizon. This phenomenon was repeated at intervals for nearly an hour, during which, time the barometer fell from 29.53G to 29.651, —then rose as suddenly, when the aurora ceased to appear, to 29.743. There is but little doubt that this was one of those magnetic storms, which abundant evidence will shew have been so often associated with violent and sudden changes of weather. At anyrate, Borne extraordinary atmospheric disturbance was taking place at the above time, which recent scientific discovery wonld attribute to this cause. The total rainfall from 10 li. a.m. on the 9th, to 4h. p.m. on the 10th, was 3.937 inches. The only parallel fall to this during the present year , occurred on the Sth of October, and amounted to 3.9 inches. S. J. Lambibt, F.R.A.S.