105 



ANALYSIS OF THE OBSERVATORY RECORDS FOR NOVEMBER, 

 18&4, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THOSE OF BIRTHS, DEATHS, 

 &c. ' By E. Swarbreck Hall. 



The character of the weather this month was quite abnormal, and from its 

 frequent and extensive fluctuations, was very fatal to diseased jjcrsons, and 

 feeble old people. To the young and healthy the vaiiable atmospheric con- 

 ditions, from being accompanied with a high degree of serial purity, was the 

 reverse" of injurious. Nevertheless, the mortality of the month somewhat 

 exceeded the November average of the ])revious seven years. At all ages beyond 

 live years old, there was an excess of deaths. From birth to five years of age, 

 the deaths were little beyond half the average. 



Atmosjjheric pressure mean, 29-846, was +"121 above the 20 years' adopted 

 standard mean, while November 1863 was below it by,— -062. The minimum 

 pressure was on the 3rd, 29-172; ; the maximum 30-277, on the 18th. The 

 month's extreme range was consequently 1 -10.5 inches, which is greater than 

 that of any November since 1856. The greatest movement of the barometer 

 in any twenty -four hours, was a rise of + -606 on the 4th; but on the 4th, also, 

 there was one nearly as great, i. e. + -58-2. The greatest fall,— -565, was on the 

 12th. Other fluctuations of atmospheric pressure, exceeding one-fifth of an 

 inch,'occurred eleven times. The influence of these extensive perturbations, is 

 clearly marked in the mortaary records. 



This was a very vjindy November, the total force, 124*86 lbs, being, +17-83 

 lbs, more than the mean of the previous seven years. The calms noted were 

 only 3, which is without parallel in any previous November recorded. North- 

 west -ninds were the most frequent in number, but south-west had the greatest 

 amount of force. The strongest wind of the month had 10-42 lbs pressure to 

 the square foot, and came from the south-west, with squalls of rain, haQ and 

 snow, and a gi-eat depression of temperature. 



Temperature mean, 5S-07, differs little from that of the 20 years, bemg only 

 -f 00-28 above ; but erroneous conclusions might be drawn were the influence 

 of the extreme variations in the month not duly weighed. The maximum 

 shade temperature by the self -registering thermometer, was 85 on the 2nd, and 

 the mean of all the maxima attained the high proportion of 70-13 degrees ; 

 while the minimum night temperature was 41 degrees, and the mean of all 

 the minima so low as 48-76 degret s. The mean from both being about one 

 degi-ee more than that of the ordinary thermometers. The extreme range of 

 temperature, 44 degrees, exceeded that of November 1863 by seven degrees. 



The mean daily range of te7iiperatu re vf as 21.2S degrees, being + 2-39 degrees 

 more than the 20 years' average, only four Novembers in the previous 23 

 years have l)een higher. Last year's was— 3-12 less. The greatest range 

 on any day was, 37 degrees on the 19th. Only 1862, 1846, 1S43, exceeded this. 

 The least range on any day was 9 degrees on the 23rd. 



Solar intensity attained the highest maximum of 125, twice in the month, 

 on the 2nd and the 19th, 1862 had one degree less, but no other November on 

 record was ever before so high by ten degrees. Last year's maximum was 

 only, 114 degrees. The mean for the present month was 103*86 degrees, 

 being higher than any November recorded (8 years) and + 3*05 above 

 the mean of the whole. Last year's November was three and a half degrees 

 less. As it will be shown, hereafter, that cloud mean was also above the 

 average, it will be evident that the sun's rays this month were unusuaUy 

 powerful, wliile prevailing. The minimum of the solar-thermometer was 56 on 

 the 2 1st. 



Terrestrial radiation mean, AQ-OS, was ~-51he\ow the average of the pre- 

 vious eight years. The maximum was 55 on the 7th ; minimum 31 on the 



10th. n.. • , 1.- I- • 



The rain precipitated, amounted in the aggregate to 2*06 mches, which is 

 —•70 below the 20 years' average ; November, by that standard, being much 

 the wettest month of the twelve. 1863 had rather more than double the rain- 

 fall of that of the present month. The number of days on which rain fell, was 

 13, which is + 0-22 above the average of wet days in November on nine 

 year's records. For the.first three weeks of the month, no day's rain was 

 sufficient to make the channels run, the rain deposited being merely sprinkling 

 showers. Vegetation suffered much during this period for want of a more 

 copious supply. On the 21st, however, nearly an inch of rain fell, and 

 thoroughly saturated the soil, and flushed all drains. Again on the 26th 

 rather more than half an inch was guaged, and the channels were well 

 cleansed. Snoio and hail were mixed with the rain on the latter day, as it fell 

 in the city ; while Mount Wellington exhibited as hoary and ample a mantle 

 as it ever had done during the winter. Snoio was never altogether absent from 

 Mount Wellington; during the month, though at times only a few patches 

 could be discerned from the city. Muttering of thunder was heard on the even- 



