378 The Meteorology of Whitehaven. 
locality, less rain is deposited in the instrument in proportion to its dis- 
tance from the surface.” But, however this may be at small distances 
above the ground, it is certain that at considerable elevations much less 
rain is deposited than at the surface. Thus, one of the gauges with which 
the experiments above alluded to were conducted, on being removed to 
the steeple of St James’s Church (78 feet above the street*), received, 
in 1844, only 27.862 inches, about one-fourth less than the gauge at 6 
feet. The gauge on the steeple was examined weekly, and | generally 
found it to contain from one-third to one-fourth less than the standard 
instrument at 6 feet. The difference, however, varied from one-half to 
only one-tenth less; on five occasions I found the quantity only one- 
half, mostly when the fall was moderate and attended with violent gales. 
Thrice the receipts of the two gauges were equal, or nearly so, when 
the rain descended in yast torrents during a calm, or with no particular 
high wind; and, upon one solitary oceasion, the higher gauge exceeded 
the lower by nearly one-fourth, without any attendant circumstances 
apparently sufficient to account for the discrepancy. The rain fell 
chiefly on two nights, the upper current varying from two to three 
points west of the wind, which was strong at SW. and SSW. 
Although the receipt of rain is greatest at or near the surface of the 
ground, and the fall is found to diminish as the gauge is removed to a 
higher position in the atmosphere ; yet as we ascend into hilly and moun- 
tainous districts, the annual depth of rain rapidly increases. Thus the 
fall at Whitehaven during last year is only 36.723, whilst at Ennerdale 
Lake it amounts to 54.626, an excess of nearly one-half; and this is pro- 
bably below the average proportion, The fall at Keswick, in 1844, is 
40.629 ; at Ambleside, 58.828; at Grasmere, 65.632 ; and at Doncaster, 
in Yorkshire, only 18.18 inches. The writer has, for some time past, 
had a number of gauges dispersed through the Lake District of Cum- 
berland, the results of which he intends to publish in the course of the 
ensuing summer. It may be remarked, that Ennerdale is far from being 
the wettest portion of the Lake District. 
BARoMETER.—The mean of the barometer (29.743), so nearly corre- 
sponds with the average of preceding years, that the difference is un- 
worthy of notice. An examination of the table will confirm the remark 
made in last year’s report, relative to the atmospheric tide, or horary 
variation of the mercurial column. The mean at 9 A.M. is 29.743, at 2 
P.M. 29.740, and at 9 P.M. 29.749. The atmospheric pressure arrives at 
the maximum between 9 and 11 o’clock in the evening; at 3 P.M. it is 
at the minimum, and at 9 A.M. at the mean for the 24 hours. The annual 
high extreme of the barometer (30.30) oceurred with the wind at ENE., 
on the 2d of May, about a week after the commencement of the six 
weeks’ drought. The lowest point which it reached was 28.58, with 
the wind at SE., on the 25th of February, amidst a continuance of very 
changeable weather—frequent falls of snow, alternating with keen frost, 
and a bright unclouded sky. 
THERMOMETER,—The mean temperature of 1844 (48°.117), is about 1° 
under the average of this locality. The thermometer attained its maxi- 
mum with the wind at SSE., on the 23d July, when it rose suddenly 
from 66°, on the previous day, to 79°.5, an elevation of 13° in 24 hours, 
and of of 18°.5 in 48 hours. On the 24th and following day it reached 79° 
and 78°; and on the 26th it as suddenly fell again to 66°, the maximum 
of the 22d. The lowest point to which it descended was 22°.5, on the 
————— 
* St James’s Church is about 30 yards distant, in a direct line, from the 
standard gauge at 6 feet. 
