THE CLIMATE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 281 



is due to this cause ; since the breaking-up of ice-fields 

 and their rapid transport southwards would clearly 

 produce sudden changes, having no counterpart in the 

 effects due to the gradual process of freezing. 1 



It may well be, however, that the observations of 

 forty-three years are not sufficient to afford the true 

 mean diurnal temperature for a climate so variable as 

 ours. Indeed, if the curves given by Kaemtz for 

 continental climates be as accurately indicative of 

 observed changes as that of Fig. 3, we must either 

 accept such an hypothesis, or else assume that the 

 English climate is marked by regularly recurring 

 variations altogether wanting in continental climates ; 

 and it is to be noted that the regular recurrence of 

 changes is a peculiarity wholly distinct from variability 

 of climate, properly so termed, and seems even incon 

 sistent with such a characteristic. It may happen, 

 therefore, that the observations of the next thirty or 

 forty years will afford a curve of different figure ; and 

 that by comparing the observations of the eighty or 

 ninety years, which would then be available, many, or 

 all, of the irregularities exhibited in Fig. 3 might be 

 removed. In this case we might expect our climate- 

 curve to assume the form indicated by the light line 

 taken through the irregularities of Fig. 3. It will be 

 observed that this modified curve exhibits but one 

 maximum and one minimum. It is not wholly free, 



1 Icebergs have been seen travelling southwards against a strong 

 northward surf ace- current, and even forcing their way through field-ice 

 in so travelling. 



