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The Climate of New Zealand. — General. 33 
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beaches which vary from 40 m to 150 m above sea-level; the glaciers retreated, 
their valleys were deeply covered with gravel and coastal valleys became inlets. 
This depression has been succeeded by a continuous but slow elevation 
lasting to the present time throughout the Recent period. Raised beaches are 
a’ frequent feature. The great river-terraces were constructed. Ngauruhoe 
came into eruption and the other volcanoes of the Plateau were more or less 
active. Rock-mövements-are still in progress as evidenced by the frequency 
of earthquakes. 
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Chapter I. The Climate of New Zealand. 
By D.C. Bates, Director of the Meteorological Office, Dominion of New Zealand, 
F.R S.; FR: Met. S 
N N 
1. General. 
New Zealand possesses, for the most part, a maritime climate, situated as 
it is remote from. other lands in the widest ocean of the globe with no part 
of the area more than ı20 km from the sea. There are however marked 
differences in climate, owing firstly to the region extending through 25 degrees 
of latitude and secondly to the lofty mountain chains of the main islands lying 
athwart the prevailing winds. “Aspect” therefore has a remarkable influence 
both on rainfall and temperature, not only as to average annual amounts, but 
also in every atmospheric disturbance that passes over the land. Seasonal 
differences stand out clearly enough; thus the W. coast has a lower mean 
‘ temperature in summer and spring than the E. coast districts, but for autumn 
and winter the reverse holds good. 
With regard to rainfall, that of ehe South Island, in the W., is extremiely 
high, while, on the contrary, parts of the eastern districts are, in comparison, 
very dry. The North Island has a maximum rainfall — almost a rainy season 
indeed — in the winter months, but the South Island shows a remarkable 
evenness in its monthly averages. Periods of drought occur at times in the 
eastern districts, such being commonest in spring and summer, in the N., and 
in-autumn and winter, in the S. Although the total average rainfall, especially 
in the E., decreases with increase of latitude, yet the number of rainy days is. 
greater in.the S. than in the N. This arises through the frequent occurrence 
of atmospheric disturbances in the latitude of the "forties”, but the noıthern 
districts are under the influence of occasional cyclonic disturbances of tropical 
origin which travel from the N.W. to the S.E. over the North Island. Occasionally, 
extensive “Lows”, decreasing northwards, account for much warm and moist 
track will often pass to the northward of New Zealand; sometimes it crosses 
as low as Cook Strait; ee it, comes from the N. E. to the East ( 
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weather but do not usually. bring about a heavy precipitation. The ‚cyclone a 
