METEOROLOGY WATER. 941 



ological observations made in Tunis during the eclipse of the sun August 30, 1905. 

 These relate to temperature, relative humidity, wind movement, cloudiness, etc. 



Meteorolog-ical Chart of the Great Lakes, A. .1. Heney and N. B. Congee 

 ( U. -V !>>/>'. Agr., Weather /.'"/•., Met. Chart Great Lakes, 1906, No. 2, pp. 12, chart 1).— 

 This is a summary of observations od storms and high winds over the lake region, 

 UK)."); precipitation and lake levels, November, 1904, t . . October, 1&05; opening and 

 closing of navigation, L905; vessel passages at Dctn.it, Midi., during the Beason of 

 navigation; and wrecks and casualties during 1906. 



Climate of the Pacific coast, A. McAdie (Outing M<t<j., .;; (1906), No. 5, j>/>. 

 666-658) . — The more characteristic features of temperature, rainfall and snowfall, 

 sunshine and evaporation are discussed and compared \\ iili similar climatic features 

 of the Atlantic coast, ft is shown that the temperature is Less variable throughout 

 the year on the Pacific coast than on the Atlantic coast, although, owing to the 

 topography of the country, wide differences of temperature occur within short 

 distances. 



"The orography of the Pacific coast is different from that of the Atlantic. The 

 mountains stand in -rent ranges, inclosing many valleys running a- a rule parallel to 

 the coast. The angle of inclination of the mountains to the rain-bearing winds is 

 favorable for heavy rainfall, north of the thirty-fifth parallel. In southern California 

 the mountains trend east and west, and much drier weather is the rule. While the 

 inclination of the mountains is an important factor in rain production, the chief 

 factor, of course, is the movement of the air due to the great pressure areas." 



The heaviest rainfall in the country occurs on the north Pacific coast; the least in 

 southeastern California, varying in 1904 from nothing in the latter region to 145 in. 

 in eastern Oregon. Due to the influence of the mountains the snowfall is heavier 

 in many parts of the Paciiic coast than in most portions of Canada, varying from a 

 tract' in San Francisco to .'><50 in. at Fordyce. 



" Evaporation data are scant, but it is likely that the highest rate of evaporation in 

 our country will he found in California. At Calexico, from July 1, 1903, to July 1, 

 1904, the evaporation measured 108 in., i. e., 2,74:! mm., or over 7 mm. per day." 



The Paciiic coast i^ thus shown to be a region of climatic contrasts and contradic- 

 tions. The mountains favor diversity of climate and give rise to many so-called 

 "local" climates. 



The climate of Madison, Wis., J. L. Babtlett (Mo. Weather Rev., SS I 1906), 

 No. IS, />/>. 527-534, figs, (i). — Meteorological observations at Madison, beginning as 

 early as January, 1853, are summarized, and from them the climatic characteristics 

 of the place are deduced (see also E. S. R., 17, p. 2l'4 (. 



As regards the general climatic situation, it is stated that '•southern Wisconsin 

 enjoys a type of climate, peculiar to continental interiors, characterized by gnat 

 extremes of temperature. As it lies on the windward side of Lake Michigan, its 

 atmospheric conditions are but slightly influenced by the Great Lakes. In general 

 this is a region of warm summers, with occasional periods of extreme heat, which 

 may be interrupted by destructive local storms. The winters are somewhat cold 

 and stormy, with frequent cold waves. The rainfall is sufficient for raising excellent 

 crops, and is heaviest dining the spring and early summer and least in the winter. 

 About 50 per cent of the possible duration of sunshine is recorded at the surface of 

 the earth." 



Madison occupies a narrow strip of land lying directly between Lakes Mendota 

 (15 square miles in area) and Monona (5 square miles in area), and "the tendency 

 of the lakes is to lower the mean maximum temperatures throughout the year, to 

 raise the mean minimum, and thus to decrease the mean daily range. . . . The 

 average date of last killing spring frosts is April 21, and the earliest in the fall Octo- 

 ber 17. Comparing these dates for a number of years with the dates of similar 



