chap, xix AT ADVENT POINT 253 



It was promised that they should arrive by the tourist 

 steamer Lofoten on July 31. There was nothing for it, 

 therefore, but to wait and make preparations as complete 

 as possible for a fresh adventure inland. Thus two whole 

 days slipped away in chilly inaction, the cloud-pall growing 

 ever denser and lower, the showers more frequent, and the 

 winds more keen. 



The best published series of observations of Spitsbergen 

 meteorology are those made at Cape Thordsen, between 

 August 15, 1882, and August 23, 1883, by a well-equipped 

 Swedish party. 1 They showed that, during the period in 

 question, the average number of hours when the sun shone 

 was as follows : During May, 10.8 hours ; during June, 6.7 ; 

 during July, 7 ; during August, 6.7 ; during September, 2.2. 

 August was the calmest month, E., ESE., and WSW. winds 

 being commonest. The average velocity of the winds that 

 blew was moderate and almost uniform throughout May, 

 June, and July ; then it rose steadily till November. The 

 quantity of clouds reached a maximum at the beginning 

 of June, a minimum at the end of July, and a second 

 maximum at the beginning of September. Precipitation 

 was slight and diminishing in May, less but increasing 

 in June, still slight but a little more rapidly increasing 

 in July, still more rapidly increasing in August to a 

 maximum at the beginning of September. The mean 

 barometric pressure was very uniform in May, June, and 

 July, but fell steadily throughout August to a minimum at 

 the beginning of September. The mean air-temperature 

 rose continuously from — 5 Cent, in May to about +5 , at 

 which it stood throughout July; it fell steadily to — 1° at 



1 Exploration Internationale des Regions polaires, 1882-83 ; Observations faites 

 au Cap Thordsen, &c. , publiees par VAcademie royal des Sciences de Suede, tome i., 

 Stockholm, 1 89 1, 4to. See also Observations meteorologiques de P Expedition arctique 

 Stiedoise, 1872-73, redigees par A. Wijkander, in the Mem. de PAcad. /?. des Sciences 

 de Suede, tome xii., No. 7. 



