CHAPTER THREE 



THE CLIMATE OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE 

 By A. S. Watt, ph.d. 



THE MAIN FEATURE OF THE CLIMATE OF THE NEIGHBOUR- 

 HOOD of Cambridge lies in the definite approach it makes to the 

 continental type/ Its latitude and position on the western side of a 

 continent enable it, of course, to share with other parts of the British Isles 

 in the equable climate associated with oceanic conditions. But its position 

 in relation to the continental mainland also allows it to share in continental 

 characteristics. The cUmate of Cambridge, in fact, may be described as 

 transitional. Just how far it departs from oceanity and how near it 

 approaches continentality is the main theme of this chapter. 



To throw into relief the essential features of the Cambridge climate 

 comparison is made, in the account that foUows, between meteorological 

 data from selected stations lying approximately in the same latitude across 

 Europe from west to east. Valentia, Cambridge, BerHn, and Orenburg 

 represent a transition from the oceanic to the continental type of cUmate. 



TEMPERATURE 



The data given in Table i, and graphically presented in Fig. ii, show a 

 shghtly decreasing mean annual temperature from west to east. 



At Valentia, the maximum falls in August, but the value is only slightly 

 above that for July when the maximum occurs at the other three places: 

 the ininimum, on the other hand, falls in February at Valentia, but in 

 January at the other three stations. The range of the monthly means 

 increases from 14-8° F. at Valentia, through 22-4° F. at Cambridge, and 

 33-7° F. at Berlin, to 673° F. at Orenburg, an increase partly due to higher 

 summer temperatures but mainly to lower winter temperatures. 



The departure from oceanity, seen in the increasing range of monthly 

 means, is emphasised by the monthly extremes of normal maxima and 

 minima for Valentia, Cambridge, and Berhn (Table 2; Fig. 12), which 

 show (a) an increasing annual range of monthly extremes (Table 2, last 



' It is a pleasure to acknowledge my indebtedness to Dr G. C. Simpson, Director 

 of the Meteorological Office, for placing the services of his department at my disposal. 

 Mr E. G. Bilham of that department has been particularly kind in elucidating points 

 of detail. His book on The Climate of the British Isles (1938) appeared during the pre- 

 paration of this chapter and fuller information will be found there. For the use made 

 of the data I must accept responsibihty. 



