HOURS OF SUNSHINE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19804, 5 December 1938, Page 15

HOURS OF SUNSHINE

GISBORNE OBSERVATIONS FIGURES FOR NOVEMBER Despite the fact that Gisborne experienced such a rainless period in November—the driest month in 4j years—fewer hours of bright sunshine were recorded than for either of the two previous months. Observations taken by Union Airways’ observer at the Gisborne aerodrome show that last month there was a total of 182.5 hours of sunshine, compared with 261.4 hours in October. 133.6 hours in September, and 145.3 hours in August. In October, Gisborne was the sunniest spot in New Zealand, except for Napier, where the tally was 266.5 hours.'

The November figures did not even approach those of last year, when 254,9 hours were recorded in November. The first three days of the past month were entirely sunless, but in November, 1937, there was not a single day that the sun did not show itself.

November 13 saw the most sunshine for any day in the month with a reading of 13.1 hours, while there were eight occasions on which the sun shone for 10 hours or more. By comparison, the maximum reading in November, 1937, was 13.8 hours, while 15 days had 10 hours’ sunshine 01more. The average amount ol' sunshine per day was six hours last month, as against 8.4 hours per day in the previous month and 8.4 hours per day in November, 1937.

Dry Nor’westers

The winds were a big factor in drying up the pastures last month for there were no fewer than 15 occasions on which the force of the wind exceeded unit three on the Beaufort scale, whereas in the same month last year there were only three days on which the wind was stronger than unit three. Most of the winds during the month were dry nor’westers.

A wide range of temperatures was noted during the month, there being two frosts, one of 4.3 degrees and the other of .3 degrees, while the maximum in the shade went as high as 78.6 degrees. The extremes were even greater in November, 1937, when there were four frosts, including one of 7.3 degrees, while the highest maximum reading was 81 degrees.

The earth temperatures were a shade warmer than those of the corresponding month last. year. At 3ft. below the surface of the ground the temperature was 57 degrees on November 1 and it gradually rose to 60.4 degrees on November 30. Last year the variation was 56 degrees on November 1 arid 59.8 degrees, on November 30.