METEOROLOGY OF MOUNT KOSCIUSCO. 

 By E,. von Lendenfeld, Ph.D. 



During my recent expedition to the central part of the Australian 

 Alps, I made some observations of interest regarding the Meteor- 

 logy of that part of our colony. 



In a recent map showing the quantity of rain in various parts of 

 New South Wales and Victoria, published in Victoria, it is stated 

 that there is less rain on Mount Kosciusco than either north or 

 south-west. This is a statement contradictory to alpine experience 

 and it is partly to show the fallacy of it, that I have written this 

 paper. 



The nearest meteorological station is Kiandra and more rain 

 falls there during every season than during the corresponding lapse 

 of time in any other station in New South Wales or Victoria. 



On approaching the mountain one immediately perceives that 

 there must be plenty of water there as the rivers which drain the 

 mountain are large and full even in a time of drought. 



Coming down the mountain I measured the Snowy River above 

 its junction with the Crackenback and found that over 2,300 cubic 

 feet of water passed there per minute, at a height of 2,952 per feet. 

 When the river is high this amount is greatly increased ; then the 

 stream conveys at that point about 1,000,000 feet of water down the 

 valley per minute. This river drains an area of about 500 square 

 miles and so it is quite clear that that area cannot be suffering 

 much from drought. 



This area forms the main part of the Kosciusco-plateau extending 

 40 miles north of Mount Townsend. 



The valleys on this plateau through which the tributaries of the 

 Snowy River flow are so wet and boggy that it is with great 

 difficulty that one can get along through them. On the plateau 



