498 Eighth Annual Report op the 



Chart 14 exhibits, approximately, the annual percentage of 

 cloudiness for all sections of tlie State; the values for the Adir- 

 ondack Region, however, being somewhat uncertain, as they de- 

 pend wholly upon o'bservations at border stations. 



The main features of the map are based upon the averages 

 given in the table, with such modifications as have been sug- 

 gested 'by comparing and charting the results obtained by numer- 

 ous voluntary oibservers during the past three years. The first 

 series of Regents' observations were also found useful when com- 

 pared among themselves. 



The nearly uniform cloudiness over the State in summer is 

 su'bstamtially the same in amount as that of the Great Lake 

 Region and the north eastern States in general. It is about five 

 per cent, below the average of the middle Atlantic coast, and 

 from ten to fifteen per cent, above that of the Central States. In 

 winter there is a general increase of cloudiness from the Grulf of 

 Mexico northward, and especially in the region of the Ohio val- 

 ley. The Great Lakes also become an important source of cloud 

 formation at this season, the entire region from Lake Huron to 

 western New York being subject to more than seventy per cent, 

 of overcast skies, which is the maximum amount for the United 

 States, if a small portion of the northern Pacific coast be ex- 

 cepted. Eastward and southward from Ithe Central Lakes the 

 cloudiness decreases, and on the Atlantic coaSit the amount is 

 over twenty per cent, below that of the Great Lake Region. 



There are many interesting and peculiar features of cloud dis- 

 trrbutiom within New York; but local observations, still inade- 

 quate in most cases, have not been sufficiently discussed for pub- 

 lication. 



Humidity. 



The following values of Relative Humidity (or percentage of 

 mjoisture relative Ito saturation) were derived from oibservations 

 at seven stations of the Signal Service from the opening of the 

 stations (in 1871 in most cases) to 1886. 



