On the Climate of the Canary Islands* 



125 



Mean of the whole year 17.31 



71.0 



The progression of the temperature in the different months 

 follows the law common to places without the tropics ; the 

 greatest heat and the greatest cold are in the months following 

 the solstices. The mean temperature of the coldest month, 

 January, is the same as the mean temperature of the whole year 

 in southern Italy. 



• Rains. — By the character of the rains, the climate of the 

 Canary Islands is also assimilated to the temperate zone, rather 

 than to the zone of the tropics ; there are no tropical rains, and 

 the rains -which take place occur at that season when the tem- 

 perature differs most from that of the equator. Their cause is 

 the same as elsewhere beyond the tropics ; the cooling of the 

 tipper current of the atmosphere, in its passage from the 

 equator, and the deposit of the great quantity of vapour with 

 Avhich it is charged. In consequence of the greater warmth 

 of the climate of the Canary Islands, this deposit does not 

 lake place there so soon in the autumn, or continue so late in 

 the spring, as in Italy, or in countries still further to the north» 

 It scarcely ever rains on the sea coast earlier than November, 

 or later than the end of March. 



Winds. — During the summer months, the climate of the 

 Canaries is assimilated by the winds to the region of the tropics. 

 From April to October, the N.E. trade-wind prevails uninter- 

 ruptedly. During the remainipg months it partakes of the 



