30 



METEOROLOGICAL REPORT. 



The most prominent feature of the Meteorological Table 

 printed on the opposite page is the excessively high temperature 

 in the five months, July — November inclusive. In August the 

 mean temperature was 6'1° higher than the average, and the 

 excess above the average continued until the end of November. 

 In the first half of the present year the temperature did not 

 manifest much variation from the average. 



The rainfall in the third quarter of 1899 was very deficient, 

 and again in the months of March — May inclusive in the present 

 year. 



Official observations have been taken on behalf of the 

 Brighton Corporation from 1877 onwards. The average annual 

 rainfall for the 23 years, 1877-99, was 29-19 inches. Since 1887, 

 with the exception of two years, there has been, as shown in the 

 following table, a continuous deficiency below this average. In 

 the 11 preceding years, the rainfall in three years only was 

 deficient from the average (viz., 0-27 inches in 1883, 2-83 inches 

 in 1884, and 0-29 inches in 1888). 



Deviativn from Averaifc Rainfall 1 29'19 inches) nf 23 i/ears, 

 1877-99. 



It is clear, therefore, that we have been passing through an 

 unusually protracted dry cycle of years ; and whether we have 

 yet left it behind is uncertain. 



ARTHUR NEWSHOLME. 



