320 ON THE METEOROLOGY OF IRELAND. 



the United States, engaged in such observations ; and the dis- 

 cussion of the results, by Lieutenant Maury, has led to many 

 consequences of great value to the sciences of meteorology and 

 hydrography, and rich in practical applications to navigation. 

 The Government of the United States has earnestly sought the 

 co-operation of the Governments of the several maritime nations 

 of Europe in this enterprise, and the demand has led to a Con- 

 ference at Brussels, for devising a uniform system of meteoro- 

 logical observations at sea. This Conference, held in August 

 and September last, was attended by individuals representing the 

 respective Governments of Belgium, Denmark, France, Great 

 Britain, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, and 

 the United States. 



Impressed with the conviction that it was the duty of each 

 country to take its part in these labours, and especially in the 

 investigation of its own climatology, the Council of the Royal 

 Irish Academy directed their attention, early in the year 1850, 

 to the object of organizing a uniform system of meteorological 

 observations in Ireland. And the peculiarity of the climate of 

 this island perhaps more than balances the smallness of its extent, 

 in giving an interest to the investigation. Situated as it is at the 

 north-western extremity of Europe, and exposed to the full influ- 

 ence of the northern branch of the gulf stream which sweeps its 

 western shores, its winter temperature is as high as that of the 

 southern shores of the Euxine ; while, on the other hand, the 

 great precipitation of vapour, due to the same cause, gives it a 

 summer heat as low as in parts of Finland. 



The questions whose solution was aimed at by this measure, are 

 thus stated by the Council in their second Eeport : 



1. The distribution of temperature, humidity, and rain, as 

 affected by geographical position and by local circumstances ; and 

 the other phenomena of climate. 



2. The effect of season (combined with the influences already 

 referred to) upon the distribution of temperature, and the varying 

 position of the isothermal lines from month to month. 



3. The non-periodic variations of pressure, temperature, and 

 humidity, and their connexion with the course and direction of the 

 aerial currents. 



4. The phenomena and laws of storms, whether revolving or 

 otherwise. 



