PREFACE. 



BY 



THE DIRECTOR OF THE METEOROLOGICAL OFFICE. 



THIS volume contains the chief part of the results of the Meteorological Observations made in connexion 

 with the voyage of the ship " Discovery " of the National Antarctic Expedition, which left Cowes under 

 the command of Commander R. F. SCOTT, R.N., on the 6th August, 1901, and returned to Spithead on the 

 10th September, 1904. 



There still remain for publication the discussions of the special features of the traces of the barographs, 

 thermographs and hygrographs obtained at Winter Quarters, and of about 1000 synchronous charts of the 

 regions south of 30 S. latitude, which have already been prepared from the daily observations at 

 Greenwich noon contributed by international co-operation. 



To the results now presented many persons have contributed, and in various ways. 



PROGRAMME AND EQUIPMENT. 



The ' Antarctic Manual,' edited by GEORGE MURRAY, F.R.S., Director of the Civilian Scientific Staff of 

 the Expedition until July, 1901, the guide to the scientific work of the Expedition, contains sections 

 on Antarctic Climate, and on Meteorological Instruments contributed by E. H. SCOTT, F.R.S., and 

 J. Y. BUCHANAN, F.R.S., respectively. 



The ordinary meteorological equipment of the Expedition was supplied through the Meteorological 

 Office at the expense partly of the Office and partly of the Admiralty. A number of additional instruments 

 were also provided at the cost of the funds of the Expedition. 



Sir WILLIAM WHARTON, F.R.S., Hydrographer of the Navy, and member, ex officio, of the Meteorological 

 Council, took an active part in selecting the equipment. Dr. SCOTT was also on the Advisory Committee, 

 and in the later stages of the preparation I was associated with them, and the duty of working out the 

 details of special construction and arranging for the manufacture and supply devolved upon me. 



Ultimately the meteorological equipment supplied by the Office was made up as follows : 



2 marine barometers. 



2 station barometers. 



3 large aneroids. 

 6 watch aneroids. 

 3 barographs. 



2 portable hypsometers. 



12 mercurial thermometers, to 100 F. 

 1 2 mercurial thermometers, - 40 to 90 F. 

 12 low-range spirit thermometers + 52 to - 80 F. 

 6 sling thermometers. 



3 maximum thermometers - 30 to 90 F. 



2 8-inch rain gauges, with duplicate receivers, 



cases and glasses. 

 2 special thermometer screens. 

 2 sunshine recorders (for 24 hours) with special 



cards. 



The Meteorological Office also provided books of forms 

 in consultation with Sir W. WHARTON. 



1 DINES' self-registering pressure-tube ane- 

 mometer. 



1 DINES' sight-indicating anemometer. 

 1 ROBINSON anemometer. 

 1 ASSMANN'S psychrometer. 



1 EXNER'S electrometer. 



3 thermographs (RICHARD type). 



2 hygrographs (RICHARD type). 

 8 solar radiation thermometers. 

 2 earth thermometers. 



2 terrestrial radiation thermometers. 

 1 AITKEN'S dust-counter. 

 1 standard spirit thermometer. 

 5 PICHE'S evaporation gauges. 

 G hydrometers. 

 12 spare tubes for anemometers. 



for the entry of observations which were prepared 



