427 



the average force 3-3. The number of strong winds, 6-7, recorded at 8a.m. is found to have been 12; 

 the number of gales, 8-10, 2 ; the mean cloud amount, 5. 



In ii paper read by Dr. OTTO NoKDKNSKloi.n before the Royal Geographical Society on the 21sf Man-h, 

 1904, tho eminent explorer mentioned a violent hurricane experienced at Snow Hill Island in the middle; 

 of March, and spoke of the severe storms and great cold the Expedition was exposed to in far southern 

 latitudes. " No words," he said, " can suffice adequately to describe the terrible violence of these south- 

 west hurricanes, which are accompanied by the severest cold ever experienced where we were.' Ho 

 commented on " the frequent occurrence and protracted duration of the storms " at Snow Hill, which 

 sometimes attained a velocity of 70 to 90 miles an hour. " The average velocity of the wind," ho 

 continued, "for the eight months (March to October) in 1902 was 31 feet per second, which is probably a 

 record for so cold a climate." 



At tho " Discovery's " Winter Quarters the long polar night commenced on the 20th of April, when tho 

 sun disappeared from view for four months. 



During the winter months of May to August, 1902, inclusive, the mean pressure at McMurdo Sound "Discovery," May 

 was 29 '172 inches, and the extreme range of pressure 2-041 inches. The highest barometer, 

 30 '181 inches, was recorded on the 19th of May, when a gentle breeze from east obtained; the lowest, 

 28-140 inches, on the 28th June, during a calm. 



As regards temperature, the mean was - 13 -3 F., and the extreme range of temperature no less than 

 69 -5. The maximum temperature, 19 F., occurred on the 4th of May, when a fresh south-easterly breeze 

 was blowing ; the minimum, - 50 -5 F., on the 7th of August, when there was no wind. 



The prevailing winds were from between north-eastward and south-eastward, the predominating direction 

 being easterly. Out of 1476 observations of wind direction, 15-3 per cent, fall under the head "calm," 

 and only 0"7 per cent, under the head "variable." The mean force of the wind as estimated was 2-7, 

 and, on 12 days, gales, varying in force from 8-11, were experienced. Strong winds, 6-7, were recorded 

 on 30 days. 



May appears to have been the stormiest month of the four, June the quietest. On 89 days the 

 weather was overcast or cloudy, on 62 days misty, on 9 days foggy, and on 34 days the sky was clear. 

 Snow fell on 49 days. 



In July and August, 1902, observations of temperature were made, when possible, at Cape Armitage, Cape Armitage. 

 from a spirit minimum thermometer, the readings at the time of observation being recorded, as well as the 

 minimum temperature registered. 



The observations for this period were made, generally, at or about noon, and 48 observations obtained 

 during these two months give an average temperature for the period of -21 -7 F., while at Winter 

 Quarters the mean temperature in the screen was -12-3F. The maximum temperature observed at 

 Cape Armitage during the time, -l-5 F., was recorded on the 20th July, on which day the maximum 

 temperature at the ship was 14 -2 F. The maximum in the screen near the ship for the whole period, 

 16 -7 F., was registered the day before. The minimum reading registered at Cape Armitage, -62 F., 

 was taken on the 7th August, and on the same day the minimum for the period at the ship, -50 '5 F., 

 was registered. 



Observations made during the two months therefore showed a range of 60 J- 5 at the former station and 

 67 "-2 at the latter. 



The " Southern Cross " Expedition at Cape Adare during the 4 months, May to August, 1899, recorded "Southern Cross." 

 a mean barometric pressure of 29 '076 inches, or 0'096 inch lower than that recorded on board the 

 "Discovery" at McMurdo Sound, from May to August, 1902, inclusive. A mean temperature of 

 -9 -8 F. obtained at Cape Adare during the period referred to, which is 3'5 F. higher than the 

 "Discovery's" computed mean for the corresponding 4 months in 1902. An absolute maximum tempera- 

 ture of 23-6 F. was observed at Cape Adare on the 15th July, which is 4'6 F. higher than the 

 "Discovery's" absolute maximum, and an absolute minimum of I3'5 F. on the 5th and 6th August, 

 which is 7 F. higher than the " Discovery's." The extreme range of temperature at Cape Adare in 

 May-August, 1899, was therefore 67 -1 F., as against 69 5 F., the extreme range of temperature at 

 McMurdo Sound in May-August, 1902. At Cape Adare, during the period under notice, the wind came 



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