Meteorological Reports. lii 



METEOROLOGICAL REPORT FOR 1880. 



General Summary. 



Quoting Mr. Mawley's remarks*, which are admirably 

 adapted for conveying a general idea of the chief characteristics 

 of the year under review : — 



" Unlike the previous year, the whole twelve months of 

 which were unseasonably cold, that of 1880 contained but four 

 (January, June, July, and October) which could be so described. 

 Of the remaining eight, five were warm months, and three of 

 average temperature." 



" Although as a whole the year was wet, and the rainfall of 

 the last four months excessive, yet, on the other hand, the 

 spring was most exceptionally dry, and there occurred four 

 months (January, March, May and August) the totals of which 

 taken together would amount to less than that of a single 

 average month." 



" January, March, and February were all particularly bright, 

 and the two former especially so, while the cloudy character of 

 the three summer months was not less remarkable." 



" As regards the relative humidity of the air, it will be 

 noticed how great was the dampness which prevailed, the 

 mean amount for five consecutive months, including the entire 

 summer, having been very much in excess of the average." 



" Throughout the year there were but two calm months, 

 (January and September) the former having a remarkably still 

 atmosphere ; whereas the rest were nearly all windy, and four 

 of them particularly so." 



Barometer. 



In January, on the 7th of which month occurred the highest 

 pressure (30-684 ins.) of the year, there were ten consecutive 

 days (3rd — 1 2th) during which the mercury continued 

 remarkably high — no observed reading being lower than 

 30-450 ins., and on as many as seven different days in the same 

 month the very high pressure of 30-6 ins. was exceeded. 

 Indeed we have to go back 100 years (to 1779) in order to find 

 in the Greenwich records a January having as high a mean 

 pressure. On the 7th of December the mercury rose very 

 nearly as high as the maximum recorded in January, namely, 

 to 30-667 ins., and for a whole week continued high and very 

 steady. On the other hand the lowest readings were recorded 

 on the following dates, viz., 28-862 ins. on the 17th of 

 February, 28-798 ins. on the 28th of October, 28-771 ins. on 

 the i6th of November, and lastly on the i8th of the same 



* " The weather of 1880 as observed in the neighbourhood 

 of London." 



