X.] THE GREATEST COLD OBSERVED. 363 



yielded us splendid water for drinking and washing. After the 

 14th of December, when all the smaller fresh- water collections 

 were almost frozen to the bottom, and salt-water had made its 

 way into the largest ones and those on wliich we most depended, 

 it became necessary to procure water by melting ice. 



The meteorological observations were made every fourth hour 

 up to the 1st November; after that to the 1st April every hour; 

 after that again six times in the twenty-four hours. From the 

 27th November to the 1st April the thermometers were set up on 

 land at the magnetical observatory ; before and after that time 

 in the immediate neighbourhood of the vessel. During winter 

 the charge of the meteorological observations was intrusted to 

 Dr. Stuxberg, who at that season when all around us was 

 covered with ice, was compelled to let his own zoological 

 researches rest. 



The state of the weather of course had a very sensible in- 

 fluence on our daily life, and formed the touchstone by which 

 our equipment was tested. Space does not permit me to 

 give in this work the detailed results of the meteorological 

 observations. I shall therefore only state the following facts. 



The greatest cold which was observed during the different 

 months was in 



October the 24th - 20°-8 March the 29th - 39°-8 

 November the 30th - 27°-2 

 December the 23rd — 37°' 1 

 January the 25th — 45°"7 

 February the 2nd ~ 43''8 



Twice we had the barometer uncommonly high, viz. : 



On the 22nd December 6 a.m. 782-0 (0°) mm. 

 On the 17th February 6 A.M. 7881 (0°} mm. 



The lowest atmospheric pressure, 728'8 (0°) mm., occurred on 

 the 31st December at two o'clock p.m. 



The weather during the winter was very stormy, and the 

 direction of the wind nearest the surface of the earth almost 

 constantly between north-west and north-north-west. But 

 already^ in atmospheric strata of inconsiderable height there 

 prevailed, to judge by the direction of the clouds, a similar un- 

 interrupted atmospheric current from the south-east, which when 

 it (occasionally sank to the surface of the earth brought with it air 

 that was warmer and less saturated with moisture. The reason 

 (if this is easy^ to see, if we consider that Behring's Straits form 

 a gate surrounded by pretty high mountains between the warm 

 atmospheric area of the Pacific and the cold one of the Arctic 

 Ocean. The winds must be arranged here approximately after the 

 same laws as the draught in the door-opening between a w^m ami 



