54 



If, instead of placing a rain gauge on, or a few inches above the 

 ground, it is fixed on the top of some elevated building, it will be found 

 to collect considerably less rain — the amount decreasing as the elevation 

 increases. 



As an illustration of this law, I may state that for a few years a 

 rain gauge was kept on a pinnacle of the tower of Christ Church, 

 Cockermouth, about loo feet above the ground. During the five years, 

 1866— 1870, the mean annual fall collected there only amounted to 

 2474 inches ; whilst on the ground below it, it was 45-45 inches during 

 the same period. 



It is rather singular that two consecutive years should have been 

 respectively the wettest and the driest during the period of observation. 

 This, however, was the case, the year 1872 was the wettest, and the 

 year preceding, (187 1) the driest. 



If we now examine the separate months, October will be found to 

 be the wettest, and April the driest. 



The heaviest falls of rain that occurred during any one month were 

 in October, 1862, when 10-38 inches fell; and in October, 1870, the fall 

 was 9-56. The least aniount of rain was in April, 1873, °"46, and in 

 April, 1 865, o'56. In June, 1865, there were the fewest rainy days of any 

 month in the series, viz : three days only ; the total fall during that 

 month being 070 inches. 



Taking now the daily falls which were remarkable, we find that the 

 heaviest falls in 24 hours were : — 



Sept. 27th, 1863, when there fell in that time 2.177 inches. 



Nov. 15th, 1866, 



Nov. 13th, 1869, 



Oct. 8th, 1870 



Oct. 29th, 1872 



Oct. 6th, 1874 



In November, 1866, also November, 

 there were floods in consequence of the heavy rain ; the last of these 

 being the highest since November, 1861. There was no flood during 

 1875 ; a year remarkable for floods in other districts, 



