442 



30" '3 F. and the extreme range of temperature only 6 -2, viz., between a maximum of 32 F. and a 

 minimum of 25' 8 F. 



The mean pressure during theperiod is given as 29' 186 inches. The prevailing winds were from 

 between north-west and north-east, and south and west-south-west ; the former, presumably, blowing in 

 front of, and the latter in rear of, depressions travelling to the eastward and south-eastward and passing 

 over the area of observation. Once only, on the llth February, the wind attained to the force of a gale, 

 and then for not more than an hour. 



During the second half of February the ship's mean position being in latitude 67 55' S., longitude 

 21 45' W., the weather was considered by the explorers unusually cold for the season, the mean 

 temperature being as low as 25 '4 F., with a range of temperature of !8 1- 6, i.e., from a maximum of 

 32 F. to a minimum of 1 3 '4 F. In the second half of the month under notice, in the mean position 

 referred to, the mean pressure declined to 28-966 inches. Mr. MOSSMAN states that during this time the 

 most frequent wind was the south-west, which was closely followed by winds from cast, south-east and 

 north. The frequency of the south-west wind may have been due to a relatively high pressure over 

 Graham Land, Danco Land, and the neighbouring islands, the north wind to the air circulation in front of 

 approaching low-pressure systems, and the south-east wind to the circulation in the rear. " Winds from 

 west-south-west and north-north-west were of rare occurrence," says Mr. MOSSMAX, and the reason seems 

 obvious, for these winds belong to the northern segment of cyclonic systems in the southern hemisphere, 

 and the " Scotia's " average position during the second half of February lay to the south of that part of 

 the circulation and in the southern segment of the systems. 



"Discovery," March During the autumn months of March and April, 1 903, observations for pressure at the " Discovery's " 

 Winter Quarters give a mean of 29-354 inches, which is 0-015 inch lower than the mean pressure of the 

 corresponding month in the previous year. The range of pressure in March and April, 1 903, 0-987 inch, 

 is 0-244 inch smaller than the range in the corresponding two months of 1902. The highest barometer 

 reading, 29 -782 inches, was recorded on the 25th March, the lowest, 28-795 inches, on the I2th April. 



The mean temperature during these two months was - 8 9 F. and is 9 4 lower than the mean 

 temperature of the corresponding period in 1902, and the range of temperatures, 67-5, is 8-4 larger. 

 The maximum temperature was 25 -5 F. and is entered against the 6th March; the minimum, - 42 F., 

 against the 26th April. 



( npe Armitagc, ^t Cape Armitage, 57 observations for temperature, taken between the hours of 10 a.m. and noon, give 

 1903. ' a mean of -1 8 -6 F. ; the highest reading, 25 -5 F., was taken on the 5th March, the lowest, -56 F., 



registered on the 22nd April showing a range of 81 '5. 



"Discovery," Winter The prevailing winds at McMurdo Sound during March and April, 1903, were north-easterly or easterly, 

 April, 1903. " tne percentage of frequency of the former being 23 '5, and of the latter 34 '0; but 24 '5 per cent, of the 

 total wind observations for the period were of calms. 



Blue sky was recorded on 17 days, and cloudy, or overcast, sky on 44 days. 



Snow fell on 25 days, and the weather was misty on 10 days. 



Strong winds were recorded on 15 days, and gales on 2 days. 



Relief Ship ''Morn. The Relief Ship "Morning," returning northward from McMurdo Sound between the 1st and 10th 

 March, 1903, reached a position in latitude 65 36' S., longitude 173" 57' E., on the latter date. She 

 recorded a mean pressure of 29-41 inches during this time. Her highest barometer reading, taken on the 

 5th 29-69 inches was associated with a fresh south-westerly breeze, her lowest of 28 -99 inches on the 

 8th, with a strong northerly wind, which attained the force of a fresh gale. 



Her mean temperature was 22 F. ; mean wind force 5. Strong winds were experienced on 3 days, 

 and gales on 3 days. 



iisli Expedition, At Snow Hill Island, the Swedish station, in March and April, 1903, the mean 8 a.m. pressure had 

 , 1903. declined from 29 -26 inches, the mean pressure during the summer months of November to February, to 



29-05 inches. The highest 8 a.m. reading was no higher than 29 '58 inches, and this was noted on the 

 20th April during a calm; the lowest 8 a.m. reading, 28-44 inches, was noted on the 24th March, and a 

 fresh gale was blowing from west-south-west at the time. The resultant range, 1 14 inches, is not large. 



In these months Snow Hill Island had a mean temperature, at 8 a.m., of 8 '9 F., which is 1"8 F. lower 



