METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Southland Times, Volume VII, Issue 4, 4 July 1866, Page 2

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.

Taken at Martendale, Southland, New Zealand, in May, 1866; lat., 46deg. I7min. S. ; long., 16Sdeg. 20min. E. Height above sea level, 79ft. The weather during the month was magnificent, and exhibited a most striking contrast to that we have endured throughout the last fifteen months. As may be seen below, the average height of the barometer was thegreatest on record here, 30"105 in., and the readings on the Sth, 9th and 10th were higher than I have yet registered, ranging from 30-45 inches to 30.59 inches. The barometer stood above 30 inches on seventeen days. Curiously enough the air at the same time, and indeed throughout the month, was more humid than I have ever known it, the mean degree of moisture being no less than *88, and the point of complete saturation reached on as many as thirteen days. This dampnese appeared whoUy confined to the lower stratum of the atmosphere, the upper strata being nearly always clear and dry. Five nights were foggy, and six frosty. Owing to the humidity of the air the amount of radiation — both terrestrial and soldi* — was smaU! The temperature varied unusuaUy for May. On one day it rose to 70*ldeg. in the shade, a remarkable degree of warmth, considering that May represents the English November. On only one other occasion in the last eight years has the temperature been so high. The evaporation was the smaUest hitherto recorded. The range of temperature which was 324deg. on the 15th, was only 6de;?. on the foUowirg day. On the 30th the barometer suddenly feU -76 of an inch, that is to say from 3003 inches to 29 - 27 inches, but without being followed by any remarkable change of weather ; it rose again steadily on the 31st. The wind was singularly Ught, the mean force was 2 - 0, and the anemometer, on one occasion showed a movement of only 46 miles in a week. May being generaUy the wettest and most boisterous mouth of the year ; such a continu-mce of calm brilliant weather as we have lately enjoyed is very unusual. On referring to the table below, it will be seen that we have only once had a finer May — that of 1861, when no rain at aU feU ; but in the six other years it has been the wet ann" stormy month par excellence. Barometer — Mean atmospheric pressure (corrected to standard temperature of 32deg. Falir., and reduced to sea level), 30 - 105 inches maximum, 30*591 inches on the 9th ; here the highest reading yet registeredhere ; minimum, 29'274inches on the 30th. Total range of atmospheric pressure, 1-317 inches. Thermometer — MeanYTemperature of the air, 46"7deg., wluch is the same as tho seven years, average. Highest day temperature, 70*ldeg. on 14th. Lowest night temperature, 24*4deg. on 18th. Total range of temperature, 45"7deg. Mean daUy range, 19 - ldeg. Hygrometer — Mean degree of atmospheric humidity, *88. Mean temperature of evaporation, 45*ldeg. Dew point, 43.3deg. Elastic, force of vapour, 0-281 inch. Radiation — Solar, maximum, 87deg. on 14th. Terrestrial minimum, 23'9deg. on 18th. RainfaU — On surface of ground, 2173 inches. Evaporation — On surface of ground, o*3ll inch. Cloud— Mean amount, 5*3, (overcast— lo.) Wind — General direction, N.W.: mean force, (0-12)— 2-0. Anemometer — Greatest movement of air in 24 hours, 247 miles; on the 28th (W). Greatest velocity of wind, 25 mUes per hour on 12th (N.W).

INSTBTJMES'TS.

Barometer — No. 139, by Burrow, and 733 by CaseUa. Thermometers — Self-registering, Nos. 513, 540 and 546, by CaseUa ; Nos. 2215, 2189 and 2033, by Negretti and Zambra ; three by Troughton aud Simms ; one by Barrow. Standard thermometers — One by CaseUa, and one by Negretti and Zambra. Hygrometer — Mason's, or dry-and-wet-bulb, by Troughton and Simms, and Negretti and Zambra. Rain-guages — Ordnance pattern 10 inch square, by CaseUa ; Livingstone's African pattern, 3 inches in diameter, by CaseUa ; No. 843, and two ordinary rain-guages. Evaporation-guage, by CaseUa. Anemometer — Robinson's, by CaseUa, No. 114. CHARLES ROUS MARTEN, Director of Meteorological Stations. Martendale, Ist June, 1868.

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