()78 



WINDS OF THE GLOBE. 



towards March and April. In these months the cokl is still intense in this region, 

 and tlie pressure generally higher, so that barometric poles or areas of highest pres- 

 sure are frequently met with. They are generally accompanied with calms or light 

 winds. On the other hand, the indraught towards Iceland is less, as pressure has 

 also risen there. (See Tables, Zones 2, 3, 4, and 5.) 



In cold continental areas of lower latitudes, especially in Siberia, the greatest 

 number of calms will be experienced in mid-winter, the time of lowest temperature 

 and highest pressure. In March and April, when temperature is much higher, 

 pressure decreases, and so also the number of calms. 



The following figures give the percentage of winds in Greenland. AVinter and 

 summer are chosen as the two contrasting seasons of the year.^ 



Greenland. 









Sum 



mer. 









1 







































H 





W 





^ 





^ 





w 





W 





^ 





^ 





fc 



a 



W 



to 



CO 



01 



^ 



» 



3 



35 



38 



m 

 5 



3 



13 



0.3 



fe 



Polaris Bay ,2 No. of obsert'us 



7 



20 



4 



14 



9 



31 



S 



7 



3 



" " " mile.s . . 



12 



42 



2 



6 



4 



27 



4 



4 



4 



56 



17 



2 



2 



16 



2 



2 



Lifeboat CoTe,2observations . 



















3 



80 



1.5 



O.S 



6 



8 











" " miles .... 



















3 



82 



1.7 



0.4 



5 



U 













3 



28 

 16 



45 



7 

 13 



3 



11 

 20 



2 

 6 

 3 



1 

 5 

 5 



45 

 36 

 32 



0.7 

 5 

 7 



1.4 

 3 

 4 



4 



21 



9 



73 



1.5 

 16 



1.2 

 40 

 42 



5 

 3 

 8 





 1 

 6 



16 

 13 

 14 





 3 

 2 



0.8 

 

 3 





Jacobshavn and GocUhaab . 



Sabine Island ,3 East. Greeu'd 



23 



8 



13 



9 



21 



^ 



10 



9 



47 



3 



B 



3 



12 



6 



13 



11 



Polaris Bay, number of observations . 

 Polaris Bay, number of miles . 

 Lifeboat Cove, number of observations 

 Lifeboat Cove, number of miles . . 

 Sabine Island, number of observations 



0.8 

 0.5 

 46 



30 

 67 

 64 

 67 



2 



IS 



c 

 1 



0.4 

 5 



1 

 0.3 

 13 

 14 

 19 



All these stations except Sabine Island are situated on the western shore of the 

 greatest island of the world, an island covered with large sheets of ice, .and the 

 temperature of which is much below that of the surrounding seas in winter, spring, 

 and autumn ; Smith's Sound is open the greater part of the year, though bearing 

 large floating icebergs. Monsoon winds must be expected in these conditions, and 

 this is really the case. 



The winds of Polaris Bay* have a peculiar interest, this being the most north- 

 erly station at which civilized man has ever wintered.' Polar winds prevail largely 

 in spring and winter. Yet there is a great difference between the N. E. and E. 

 winds. The second prevail if the number alone is regarded, but the N. E. prevail 



' In all cases, except when specified, the percentages are calculated from the winds collected by 

 Prof. Coffin. 



' From the observations of Dr. Bessels, of Capt. Hall's Expedition. 



' Observations of the Second German Polar Expedition, under Capt. Koldewey. 



* I owe this information on the winds of Polaris Bay and Lifeboat Cove to Dr. Bessels, who has 

 kindly permitted the use of his observations. 



