146 PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 191 3 



The readings of barometrical pressure are practically of 

 no service in making such a comparison of climate. 



The normal or mean temperatures averaged through a 

 succession of years show much less divergence than might be 

 supposed. But these small differences, together with the 

 differences in measurement of rainfall and number of rainy days 

 and the number of hours of bright sunshine, constitute the 

 statistical data available for any reliable comparison. 



So far as temperature normals are concerned, a little dif- 

 ference is noticed between the North and South of the country, 

 though not nearly so great a difference as might be expected. 

 The fact of the place where the observations are made being 

 inland or on the coast makes a difference, particularly in the 

 minimum temperatures, which are higher at the coast than 

 inland. The altitude of the town makes a difference to the 

 temperature, a few hundred feet tending to slightly reduce both 

 maximum and minimum. There is more bright sunshine in the 

 South than in the North of the country, especially more upon 

 the South coast, and for most places in the East and South 

 there are fewer rain-days and a rather smaller rainfall ; par- 

 ticularly is this the case for places in the East Midlands and 

 further East. 



In comparing Cheltenham first with other inland towns, 

 we find our town has a medium annual rain-fall, and an ordinary 

 or average annual number of rain-days. The normal tem- 

 peratures for the year, both maximum and minimum, are 

 hardly distinguishable from those of a number of other towns 

 variously placed. A greater difference is noticed in the number 

 of hours of bright sunshine, of which Cheltenham appears to 

 get about as much as any inland town, so far as available 

 records allow of a comparison being made. 



In comparison with sea-side towns in the South of England, 

 Cheltenham, in common with all inland towns, cedes position 

 in regard to sunshine, and, as has been already stated, the 

 minimum temperatures are not so low in these same seaside 

 towns, and the divergence between day and night temperatures 

 not quite so great, so that as regards cold, seaside places in 

 the South of England are slightly milder than Cheltenham in 

 Winter. 



