282 THORODDSEN 



Table IV shows that the climate of the interior districts is more 

 continental than that at the coast, the summers being warmer and 

 the winters colder. The differences in the temperature of the stations 

 at the head of a fjord is greater than of those situated outside; 

 Berufjord, for instance, is warmer than Papey. There are, however, 

 exceptions to this in places w r here cold currents and drift-ice exert 

 an influence; thus Bordeyri at the head of Hunafloi has the same 

 annual temperature as Grimsey, Raufarhofn and Skeggjasta5ir are 

 even colder, being much influenced by the Polar currents. 



During a period of 33 years (1873 1906) there have been on 

 an average 166 frosty days annually at Stykkisholm, 109 in the 

 Vestmannaeyjar, 158 at Berufjord and 192 on Grimsey. At Stori- 

 nupur near the southern lowlands, at a height of 135 metres above 

 sea-level, during a period of 20 years, there have been on an average 

 200 frosty days. The frost appears early and disappears late. Frost} 7 

 days are frequent till far into early summer, but in South and West 

 Iceland midsummer is usually free from frost. On Grimsey it freezes 

 in all the months of the year, but in July and August there are on 

 an average only two frosty days monthly; at Berufjord, in the Vest- 

 mannaeyjar and at Stykkisholm, July has been free from frost during 

 a period of 33 years. On the northernmost peninsulas and in 

 districts situated at the highest levels there is no doubt that none 

 of the months is entirely free from frost. When drift-ice lies along 

 the coast in North Iceland the ground is usually frost-bound 

 throughout summer, and in the vast extents of bog-land on the 

 plateau, at a height of 400 500 metres the sub-surface ice never 

 thaws entirely. 



Table V shows the temperature at all the meteorological sta- 

 tions in Iceland during the years 1874 1901. The observations 

 from the chief stations extend over a period of more than 25- 

 28 years; at other stations 15 22 years and in some 5 12 years. 

 For the sake of completeness some observations from three sta- 

 tions have been included, although they cover a period of 2 3 

 years only. Table VI gives many more and fuller information re- 

 garding temperature-conditions at the main stations during a period 

 of 33 years (18721906). 



The climate of Iceland is very damp although the precipitation 

 is not considerable; it is, however, much greater than in Denmark. 

 Sleet and drizzling rain are of constant occurrence, but the amount 

 of precipitation on a single day is rarely sufficient to be of any con- 



