Dtc. 2, 1880] 



NATURE 



109 



Table II. (Conlinued)^ 



The epochs of ma.\imum and minimum barometric pressure 

 and of minimum and maximum sun-spot area, as determined from 

 the dotted curves by the graphic method, are given in the 

 following table : — 



Epochs cf Maximiini and Minimum Batomelric Picsniye and 

 Solar Spotted Area 



Min. in 

 July 

 1843. ■ 



M.ax, in 

 May 

 1 848. 



Min. in 

 April 

 1856. 



Max. in 

 June 

 1S60. 



Min. in 



February 



1S67. 



Barometric pressure. 



Max.in 

 Sept. 

 1S5S. 



Min. in 

 Jan. 

 1863. 



Max.in 

 Nov. 

 1S67. 



Min. in 



Nov. 

 1870. 



Max.il 

 May 



Min. in 

 Dec. 

 1S70, 



Max.in Max.in Max.in 

 Sept. j May i Sept. 

 1877. j 1877. 1877- 



The mean epochs are given below and compared with those 

 of the solar spotted area. 



Mean Epochs of Barometric Pressure compared with t/ie Corn 

 sponding Epochs of Solar Spotted Area ' 



From this comparison it appears that the epochs of maximum 

 and minimum barometric pressure lagged behind the corresponding 

 epochs of minimum and maximum solar spotted area at an internal 

 varying fvm above six months to nearly tivo and a half years, or 

 at an average interval of about one year ar.d eight months. 



Making use of this result and comparing points of the pressure 

 curves with points of the solar curve several months earlier, it 

 will be seen that even the minor peculiarities of the pressure 

 curves from 1863 to 1S6S do bear some resemblance to the 

 subordinate features of the sun-spot curve from 1S62 to 1867. 

 What appear to be corresponding points have been marl^ed w ith 

 corresponding letters. It is remarkable that this part of the sun- 

 spot curve is the very portion which has been most accurately 

 determined by means of the Kevv photoheliograph. 



Comparison cf the Abnormal Barometric Variations with 

 Past Famines. — According to the Report of the Famine 

 Commission the famine of 1876-78 in Southern India was 

 the most widespread and severe of any which have occurred in 

 India during the present century, and on reference to the curves 

 it will be seen that the abnormal barometric pressure during 

 those years was the highest on record. In the year 1878 a famine 

 occurred in the North-West Provinces also, in consequence of a 

 deficiency of rain in the previous year. 



The famine next in severity to that of 1876-78, and of even 

 greater extent, was the one of i868-6g, which affected Rajputana 

 and the North-West Provinces. The curves show that this also 

 was accompanied or immediately preceded by a tfwrv of high 

 barometric pressure, wliich reached its maximum near the middle 

 of the year iS6S. 



The next on the li.->t of severe famines is that which occurred 

 in Ori-.sa in the years 1S65-66, and it will be seen that this also 

 was attended by a wave of high pressure which slowly passed over 

 India in the years 1S64-65. 



The less extensive Behar famine of 1873-74 was also accom- 

 panied by a small wave of high pressure, which, judging from 

 the curves for Mauritius, Bombay, Madras, and Batavia, reached 

 its maximum height towards the end of 1S73. 



The famine of 1860-61 in the North-West Provinces was also 

 preceded by a wave of high pressure in the year 1859, although 

 the failure of the rains which induced this famine did not occur 

 till the following year. 



The above mentioned famines include all the severe ones that 

 have occurred in India since 1S41, the year from which baro- 

 metric data exist ; and tlie waves of high barometric pressure 

 which have been mentioned in connection with tliem include all 

 that have been observed except two, viz. the one in 1855 and the 

 one in 1845, both of which, though not immediately followed by 

 actual famine, were nevertheless accompanied by deficient rain- 

 fall both at Madras and Bombay, the fall at the former station 

 being 67 and 78 per cent, of the average in 1855 and 1845 

 respectively, and at the latter station 58 and 77 per cent, in the 

 .■^ame years. Between the years 1832 and 1840, during which 

 the solar spotted area was .nccurately observed, but for which 

 period I have no barometric data, two other severe famines 

 occurred, viz the Gantur famine of 1833, and the famine of 

 '837-38 in Northern India ; and it is worthy of note that the 

 fir.st of these occurred soon after the sun-spots had somewhat 

 suddenly fallen to a minimum in 1S32, and when, therefore, the 

 barometric pressure would assumably be high, the second soon 

 after the great and sudden diminution of spots w hich took place 

 early in the year 1S37. This last occurrence was very similar to 

 the great decrease of spots observed in 1863, on which occasion 



■ The numbers i. 2, 3, &c., under the [heading "Month," refer to the 

 months January, Februarj', March, &c., respectively, and the decimals of 

 monlh are reckoned from the beginning of the respective months. 



