ATMOSPHEllOLOGY. — CLIMATE. S29 



excepted), was in the latitude 71^^, April 12. 1814, 

 when the mean of three thermometers indicated 

 the temperature of zero ; and on the same occasion, 

 during an interval of three days, the mean tempe- 

 rature was less than 5°. The wind, in the mean 

 time, was constantly from the north-eastward, ge- 

 nerally blowing a gale, but sometimes moderate. 

 On the 25th April 1813, latitude 80°, the thermo- 

 meter fell to — 4" during a hard gale from the north- 

 east (per compass), but, on account of the ship be- 

 ing driven away from the ice, it soon rose to lOo or 

 15". These are the only instances in which I have 

 observed the thermometer at zero ; though on one 

 occasion, in the year 1803, April 23., when we had 

 no thermometer in the ship, I am persuaded the 

 cold was still more intense, as I never observed its 

 effects so apparent. Ten or fifteen men were em- 

 ployed on the main-yard in an operation which oc- 

 cupied them about a quarter of an hour ; of these, 

 it was found, when they descended the mast, 

 that scarcely one had escaped being irost-bitten ; 

 some in the hands, some in the feet, and others in 

 different parts of the face. The effect of the ice 

 in reducing the temperature, is so considerable, that 

 our proximity to it is often announced by the cold- 

 ness, before it can be seen. In consequence of this, 

 the difference of a few leagues in position some- 

 times produces a surprising increase of cold. On 

 the 29th of April 1815, in latitude 78" near Spitz- 



