220 



REPORT — 1897. 



At Fort William the mean atmospheric pressure for the year, at 32'* 

 and sea level, was 29*929 inches, and at the top reduced only to 32°, 

 25'367 inches, being respectively 0'082 inch and 0'071 inch above the 

 averages. The difference for the two Observatories was thus •i'562 inches, 

 being only very slightly more than the average difference. At the top of 

 the mountain the absolute maximum pressure for the year was 26"252 

 inches, occurring at 10 a.m. of January 9, which is the highest yet 

 observed since the Observatory was established in 1883. At Fort William 

 at the same hour the pressure was 30'102 inches, also the highest hitherto 

 noted there. 



The barometric observations at this time will be long remembered 

 as having been in all parts of the British Islands absolutely the highest 

 hitherto recorded in each locality since barometers began to be in use. 

 In the morning of January 9, a broad belt of low temperature stretched 

 across Scotland from the Lewis to the Lothians, and it was within this 

 low temperature area that the absolutely highest readings of the barometer 

 were made. At several stations in the counties of Stirling, Dumbarton, 

 and the west of Perthshire, the sea-level readings rose to or slightly 

 exceeded Sl'lOO inches, the absolute highest of all being 31"108 inches at 

 Ochtertyre. It is remarkable that it was at Ochtertyre that the lowest 



