46 TfiE CLiMATK OF WEST CORNWALL. 



Campbell Stokes pattern which registers sunheat, as distin- 

 guished from the Jordan McLeod instruments which register 

 sunlight, and an amount considerably in excess of the Campbell 

 Stokes instrument. In the Campbell Stokes recorder the sun's 

 rays falling on a sphere of polished glass are focussed on to an 

 adjusted card and burn a trace along it. The slightest film of 

 cloud or a little haze in the atmosphere is enough to check the 

 burning action. Further it must be remembered that the sun will 

 not burn readily at very low altitudes, and that consequently no 

 record is obtained for at least 15 minutes after sunrise and before 

 sunset ; the record made is therefore said to be one of bright 

 sunshine. From the official publication referred to it is shown 

 that Cornwall — represented by Falmouth where sunshine records 

 have been made during the 10 years dealt with — is one of the 

 sunniest districts in the United Kingdom. If we omit Jersey, 

 which takes a decided lead, Falmouth then takes first place of 

 the 45 mainland stations enumerated in point of sunniness, 

 giving the highest record of sunshine for 9 months of the year, 

 viz. : February and March, and June to December. 



In July, August, October, November, and December, 

 Falmouth stands unrivalled; in February, March, June, and 

 September first position is shared with one or two other stations, 

 chiefly S. Ann's Head. Falmouth takes third place in May, 

 fourth in April, and seventh in January. Taking the year as 

 a whole, Falmouth gives the highest percentage of bright 

 sunshine of any mainland station in the kingdom, viz. : 35*7 p.c 

 of possible duration, and is followed by S. Ann's Head on the 

 West coast and by Geldeston on the East coast, each with 1 per 

 cent. less. 



In Cornwall the sunniest month is June, the least sunny is 

 January. The year of greatest sunshine of the series in 

 Cornwall was 1887, with 2074 hours, and its June — Her 

 Majesty's Jubilee month — was the sunniest month on record, 

 giving 329 hours or nearly eleven hours daily, the highest record 

 for that period in the United Kingdom, 



On an average of the past 12 years the sun shines brightly 

 on us for a greater or less time on 300 days in the year, or 25 

 days each month ; the duration giving a summer mean — April 

 to September — of 6^ hours daily, and a winter mean for the 

 remaining 6 months of 2| hours daily. 



