WEATHER PROGNOSTICS. 



Schiibler also examined the question of a correspondence 

 between the direction of the wind and the lunar phases, and 

 found that winds from the south and south-west became more 

 and more frequent at those periods of the month at which rain 

 was also observed to increase ; and that such winds were more 

 and more rare, while winds in the contrary direction occurred 

 oftener, towards those epochs of the month when least rain was 

 observed to prevail. These results, it will be seen, are quite in 

 accordance j and the question respecting the mode of action by 

 which the periods of rain are produced, would be reduced to the 

 question of the physical action by which the moon affects the 

 currents of the atmosphere. 



The connection of barometric indications with atmospheric 

 phenomena is so obvious, that the inquiry as to a correspondence 

 between the lunar phases and the variations of the barometer, 

 could scarcely escape the attention of meteorologists. /M.. Flau- 

 gergue*s accordingly made a series of observations at Viviers (in 

 the department of Arde"che), in France, which were continued 

 from 1808 to 1828, a period of twenty years, on the heights of 

 the barometer in relation to the lunar phases : that the influence 

 of the sun might be always the same, the observations were made 

 at noon, and the heights of the barometer were reduced to what 

 they would be at the temperature of melting ice. The following 

 are the mean heights of the barometer, deduced from these 

 observations : 



New moon 

 First octant 

 First quarter 

 Second octant 

 Full moon 

 Third octant 

 Last quarter 

 Fourth octant 



29743 

 29761 

 29740 

 29-716 

 29-736 

 29-751 

 29-772 

 29-744 



Hence it appears that the height of the barometer is least 

 about four days before full moon, and greatest six or seven before 

 new moon. Now these are about the times at which the investi- 

 gations of Schiibler give the greatest and least quantity of rain : 

 and, since the fall of the barometer generally indicates a tendency 

 to rain, these results are in accordance. Although it must be 

 admitted that the variation of the barometer is in this case so 

 minute, that a sensible effect could hardly be expected from it, 

 still, though minute, it is quite distinct and decided. 



M. Flaugergues also observed the mean height of the baro- 

 meter when the moon was at her greatest and least distance 

 76 



