144 Temperature of' Springs in Thunder Storms. 



4. Temperature qf' Springs, supposed to be influenced by 

 Thunder Storms.* 



I have made many observations on the temperature of three 

 springs in my neighbourhood. One of these, which has been 

 lono- used as a well, and is within 40 yards of a pump-well, 

 appears to be fed by springs from the higher ground, and, 

 for many years (at least) has become dry in summer. 



The temperature of this well has varied greatly at different 

 times, and is evidently affected by the temperature of the at- 

 mospheric air. My observations on the other two nearly coin- 

 cided. 



One of these is a spring issuing from the bottom of a hill, 

 about 10 feet above the level of Gala Water, between the 

 village and the inn. The other is a pump-well, which I sunk 

 a few years ago, immediately contiguous to the manse. Hav- 

 ing been disappointed in springs, which I expected near the 

 surface, I bored to the depth of 35 feet, and thus got an 

 abundant supply. It would seem that neither this, nor the 

 hill-side spring, are supplied by superficial springs. With re- 

 spect to their temperature, it may be stated at 45°.5. I have 

 tried the pump-well and the spring in all states of external 

 temperature, from 31° to 77°, and have found both to coin- 

 cide. The lowest indication I ever had being 44°, and the 

 highest 46°, which would form a mean of 45° ; but these ex- 

 tremes I consider to have been occasioned by the sensitive- 

 ness of the thermometer to the extremes of heat and cold in 

 passing from the water to the external air. 



There occurred just one exception to the extremes above 

 noted, in 1822, when the temperature of the pump rose to 

 47°.5. The suspended thermometer was then only 60°, but it 

 may not be unimportant to remark, that, during the day, 

 there was thunder ; this was on the 18th July 1822, when 

 the temperature of the first well xoas 56°. 5. On the 4th June 

 1822, when the suspended thermometer in shade was 77.5, 

 the pump was 46°. 



Would not this remarkable fact, as compared with what is 



• From the Reverend Mr Cormack's Meteorological Journal, kept at the 

 Manse of Stow, Midlothian, and communicated to the Royal Society of 

 Edinburgh. 



