140 Notes on the Storms of High South Latitudes. 



2. I propose the following ideal figure to represent 

 approximately the shape of these storms, which seems to 

 answer to all the veerings, &c, much better than anything else 

 I have seen. Of course it is very unlikely that one would 

 ever be seen so regular ; but this is only to give a general 

 idea. The shape they seem more generally to assume is 

 elliptical, the southern half being a great deal broken up and 

 more irregular than the northern, though it still exists, and 

 can generally be traced. The isobars in front are very much 

 compressed, caused by the resistance to its propagation, while 

 in the rear they are often greatly extended. The following 

 general description of one will show reasons for this, and also 

 the general incurving of the wind outside and near the 

 centre : — Barometer steady ; light airs or calms ; then light 

 wind begins to make from N., with cir.-s. spreading over 

 sky. Wind backs more to N.N.E., and barometer begins to 

 fall. Soon after the clouds begin to lower, and it becomes 

 quite overcast ; barometer falling fast, and rain coming on ; 

 wind steadily freshening with hard gusts, backing still more 

 to N.E. by N., where it keeps steady for some time. When 

 the barometer falling more rapidly, rain comes on heavy, and 

 wind again backs to N.E. The glass will now stop going 

 down, and there is generally a lull for a few moments, and 

 the wind suddenly shifts round to the westward with hard 

 squall. This is supposing the centre to pass over observer. 

 It will now clear up, but keep squally till the wind veers 

 round to S. ; falling lighter all the time, and barometer rising. 

 When S.E. there will be light airs and calms. They seldom 

 go single, but several follow one another in succession, the 

 wind then, after getting to S., backs again instead of going 

 round. It is a remarkable thing how very seldom the wind 

 goes right round to E. and N.E. by S.E. It may apparently 

 seem to, but in most cases that this is observed light airs and 

 calms are noted, and the cases are rarer of its going completely 

 round the other way. After several of these an anticyclone 

 will probably be experienced, the wind conditions in which 

 are almost exactly the reverse. The weather fine and dry, 

 and a good deal of a well-known dry weather stratus about. 

 The wind changes quickly from S. or S.W. to a north- 

 westerly point, and the stratus cloud breaks up before the 

 next disturbance comes on. The anticyclones seem to have 

 little or no movement in them. 



In a case where the centre passes well to southward of 

 an observer, the wind does not shift suddenly, but veers 



