THE CLIMATE OF PRINCE GEORGE'S 

 COUNTY 



By 

 WILLIAM H. ALEXANDER. 



IxTRODUCTORY. 



The principal object for which the MaryLind State Weather Ser- 

 vice was organized is to study thoroughly the climatic features of 

 the different sections of Maryland, to ascertain as far as possible 

 the effect of each of the controlling factors, and to publish the meteor- 

 ological data available in sufficient detail to enable students to inves- 

 tigate the numerous problems of climate as related to hygiene, 

 agriculture, and the mechanical arts, the solution of which is impor- 

 tant for the w^elf are of the people. Pursuant to this plan, a General 

 Sketch of the Climate of Maryland, by Mr. F. J. Walz, was pub- 

 lished in Volume I of the Maryland Weather Service Reports, and a 

 full account of the Weather and Climate of Baltimore, by Dr. Oliver 

 L. Eassig, appeared in Volume II. Chapters have also been pul)- 

 lished on the climate of five counties in the State, namely Allegany, 

 Calvert, Cecil, Garrett, and St. Mary's, and it is intended ultimately 

 to cover every county in the State. Collected into one volume, these 

 county reports will form an invaluable summary of meteorological 

 information for the student. 



THE FACTORS CONTROLLING CLIMATE.^ 



The climate of any region depends primarily upon the following 

 chief factors : 



Latitude ; the physiographic features of the region, especially its 



position with reference to mountains or large bodies of water ; to a 



iThe author has employed in his introductory paragraphs the general state- 

 ments used by Mr. C. F. von Herrmann in earlier reports of the Survey. 



