54 REPORT — 1851. 



Remarks on the Climate of Southampton, founded on Barometrical , 

 Thermometrical and Hygrometrical Tables, deduced from observa- 

 tions taken three times daily during the years 1848, 1849 and 1850. 

 By John Drew, F.R.A.S., Ph.D. University of Bale. 



Shortly after the Meeting of the British Association in Southampton, I de- 

 termined upon commencing a series of meteorological observations in that 

 town : its position in the centre of the southern line of coast appeared to me 

 an important one, and in this view I was confirmed by those whose authority 

 stands high on meteorological science. I entered therefore on an unbroken 

 series, with the hope of suppljdng data for the determination of the climate 

 of the place, towards which object no systematic efforts had as yet been di- 

 rected. 



With this view I consulted Mr. Birt, as to the instruments best adapted 

 to the purpose, and he kindly undertook to superintend the construction of a 

 Barometer by Mr. Newman, from whom, at his recommendation, I procured 

 the greater part of the instruments emploj'ed in the observations, the results 

 from which I am about to lay before the Section — for the most part in a 

 tabular form. I have spared no pains in arriving, as near as possible, at ab- 

 solute mean values in the instrumental readings ; and for the purpose of satis- 

 fying those who may hereafter consult the Tables, I shall accompany them 

 with a few remarks on the plans adopted and the instruments employed. 



The observations have been taken three times daily, viz. at 9 a.m., 3 p.m., 

 and 9 p.m., local mean time, for a period of three years, extending from 

 Feb. 1, 1848 to January 31, 1851. The barometer, with its attached ther- 

 mometer and the wet and dry-bulb thermometers, have been read at these 

 hours ; the force and direction of the wind and the amount of cloud recorded : 

 in addition to these, at 9 a.m. daily, the readings of the maximum and mini- 

 mum thermometers, and the amount of rain during the previous 24 hours, 

 have been registered. The system pursued has been as nearly as possible in 

 accordance with that followed in the Greenwich observations. 



The Latitude of my Observatory is 50° 54' 34" North. 

 The Longitude in Time 0"^ 5™ 37-7= West. 



The height of the barometer cistern above the mean level of the sea is 

 60 feet; and of the rain-gauge above the surface of the ground 9 feet 

 6 inches. 



Table I. shows the mean height of the barometer for every month, with 

 the highest and lowest readings, and their difference, or monthly range. 

 These have been corrected for capacity and capillary action, and have been 

 reduced to the temperature of 32° Fahrenheit. 



To determine the zero correction, Mr. Birt undertook to compare the in- 

 strument, before it came into my hands, directly with the Royal Society's 

 Standard, and indirectly with a mountain barometer of Col. Sabine's, whose 

 index correction had been previously ascertained : the result of the whole 

 series of comparisons was the necessity of applying -(-0036 in. to the read- 

 ings of my barometer to bring them up to those of the standard : this has 

 been applied in every case ; although when on a late occasion I carefully 

 compared it with others whose correction was thought to have been known 

 I found it somewhat too great, yet the differences were not so consistent as 

 to induce me to alter the index-error as originally determined. 



The barometrical readings have not been corrected for daily range, as I 

 have reason to believe that the daily periods of atmospheric pressure do not 



