ON THE METEOROLOGY or IKEEAND. 341 



means of the sea-temperature at the several stations, together with 

 the differences between them and the corresponding means of the 

 temperature of the air. At Cushendall and Bunown no observa- 

 tions of the temperature of the air were actually made ; and for 

 these stations^, consequently, the latter means are calculated from 

 the isothermaf lines. 



TEMPERATURE or THE SEA (YEARLY AND HALF-YEARLY MEANS). 



It appears from the last line of this Table, that the temperature 

 of the sea is, upon the mean of the entire year, 2'0 higher than 

 that of the air above the coast. The excess is 3'3 in winter, and 

 0-7 in summer. There appears also to be considerable diversity 

 in the amount of the excess at the different stations; it is 

 greatest, on the mean of the entire year, at Bunown, and least at 

 Castletownsend. 



This excess of the temperature of the sea above that of the air 

 furnishes the explanation of the fact already noticed, namely, 

 the diminution of the temperature of the air in proceeding from 

 the coasts inland ; for it is obvious that the air in the vicinity 

 of the sea must have its temperature raised by contact with 

 the water. 



It follows also, that the absolute excess of sea-temperature 

 considerably exceeds that above stated. Thus, w Imv M6O, th. 



