THE WEATHER CYCLE 



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1 1 1 I I 



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little over T i years. It 

 was therefore, natural to 

 look for a corresponding 

 variation in our weather; 

 and it was soon found 

 that many of the weather 

 factors vary in a cycle 

 of slightly over u years. 

 The connection 

 between sun spots and 

 rainfall was suggested 

 by Sir Norman Lockyer 

 and Dr. Meldrum in 

 1872. Since that time 

 the suggestion has re- 

 ceived much support, 

 and been discussed in a 

 now voluminous litera- 

 ture ; but the 1 1 years 

 cycle in rainfall is not 

 yet fully accepted. In- 

 credulity as. to the fact 

 is easily understood ; 

 look for example at a dia- 

 gram (fig. 6) showing the 

 rainfall at Melbourne. 

 The line rises and falls 

 in short waves ; but the 

 waves are irregular both 

 in height and length. 

 If we mark the year of 

 the highest rainfall in 

 Melbourne, and put 

 other marks 1 1 years 



