XIX. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN IN nERTEORDSHIRE 



IN THE YEAR 1898. 



By JoHx HoPKiNsoN, F.L.S., F.G.S., F.R.Mct.Soc, Assoc. Inst.C.E. 



Read at IVatford, 2Uh March, 1899. 



The meteorological stations, from the records of which this 

 report for the year 1898 has been cb-awn up, remain the same as 

 before, and the observations have been taken in the same manner. 

 Ihe hour of observation is 9 a.m., and all records are entered to 

 the same day except the maximum temperature and the rainfall, 

 ■which go into the previous day. At Bennington, Berkhamsted, 

 and St. Albans the shade-temperature thermometers are in 

 t^tevenson screens ; at lloyston and New Barnet they are in 

 Glaisher screens. This accounts for the greater range of tempera- 

 ture shown at these two places. 



Table I. — Results of Clirnatological Ohservatmis taken in 

 Hertfordshire in the Year 1898. 



The year 1898 was very warm and very dry, having a rainfall 

 nearly seven inches below the average for the last half-century. 

 Compared with the average of the ten years 1887-96 the excess in 

 temperature was about two degrees, and the defect in rainfall rather 

 more than five inches, and there were fifteen fewer days of rain. 

 The day temperatm-e was a little more in excess than the night 

 temperature, the mean daily range being rather greater than usual. 

 The relative humidity was a little less than usual, but as the 

 temperature was high the actual amou.nt of moisture in the air 

 was about the average. The sky was a little more cloudy than 

 usual. The mean temperature was about the same as in the 

 year 1893, and the rainfall was half an inch greater than in 

 the year 1887, rain falling on four more days than in that year. 



