390 



THE CLIMATE OF IRELAND, AND 



These facts are in entire accordance with the general course of 

 the isothermal lines, as laid down by Dove. After what has been 

 said, they are readily accounted for. The heating effect of the 

 Gulf-Stream is greatest about the time of the winter solstice, or 

 soon after. It then overpowers altogether the effect of solar 

 radiation, which is then weakest ; and the temperature increases 

 as we approach the waters of the stream i. e., as we proceed to 

 the westward. On the contrary, the effect of the stream is least, 

 and that of the sun greatest, about the time of the summer solstice; 

 and the heat increases as we proceed southward. The maxima of 

 the curves in Europe, at this period of the year, show that the 

 burning soil of the African Continent then influences most the 

 distribution of temperature to the north of it.* 



* The following are the mean temperatures of the several places of observation in 

 Ireland, reduced to their normal values, for the four seasons of the year, and for the 

 entire year : 



