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247 
METEOROLOGICAL REPORT FOR 1876, TAKEN AT BURGHILL, 
HEREFORD, 279rr. ABOVE SEA LEVEL, 
By T. A. CHapman, M.D. 
The Meteorological Society has recently organised a system of regular 
observations, and has obtained the assistance of about a score of observers who 
take observations at 9 a.m. and 9p.m. daily. These are the most complete 
observations taken except those at a few first-class observatories. Having com- 
menced to take observations last year I agreed to take them according to the above 
system. The advantages of these observations is their systematic character, 
being taken at all stations at the same time. The great defect of previous 
observations, which has seriously retarded meteorological science, was the 
desultory character of the observations, each observer chosing his own time for 
observations and his own items for record, so that no comparison was possible and 
no picture of the atmospheric condition over the whole country at once obtainable. 
I add in tables as an appendix to this report an abstract of my observations 
for 1876. 
The chief features of the year were the somewhat excessive rainfall, and its 
remarkable distribution, the excess having occurred in the last few months, the 
first seven months having indeed been deficient ; and the unusually high tem- 
perature attained during two periods in July and August. With regard to these, 
it is to be observed that the highest temperature I recorded was 89°5° in the shade, 
whereas others recorded temperatures 6° or 7° higher. There can be no question 
that the mass of the records of very high temperature in the shade are untrust- 
worthy. The whole matter depends on the method of exposure of the ther- 
mometers. The temperature of the air is what we desire to ascertain, apart from 
the effects of radiation or evaporation. My thermometers are exposed in the 
manner advised, after careful consideration, by the Meteorological Society, and I 
think must make a very close approximation to the result desired. The tem- 
perature in the sun rccorded at the same time was 141°, and it is obvious that any 
defect in the method of exposure of the thermometer will according to its extent 
more or less approximate the temperature in the so-called shade to this higher 
degree. Not only will any defect in the thermometer stand lead to error of this 
nature, but so also will the proximity of walls, buildings, roads, gravel paths, &c. 
Even when their direct radiation is excluded, they will produce currents of air 
hotter than the true atmospheric temperature. 
The mean height of the barometer for the year was 29°889 in., about ‘060 
below the average for England. The readings for January were very high, 
exceeding 30 in. on all but two days, and averaging 30°280, associated with a mean 
_ temperature slightly above the average, and no marked defect of rainfall. In 
May the barometer had again a very high average, viz., 30172 in., associated with 
a predominance of winds ranging round from E. by N. to N.W.,, and an almost 
entire absence of 8. andS.W. The rainfall was very meagre, viz., 0°29 in., and 
