176 0. Little — The Kimalayan summer storm of Sept. 24thj 1903. [No. 4, 



Bengal and the Arabian Sea exceptionally settled weather for the sea- 

 son prevailed for some time previous to the disturbance in Bengal, and 

 that there was no appearance of any disturbance having passed north- 

 wards from either of the sea areas. In the previous papers I have 

 pointed out that similar settled weather had been a prominent feature 

 of the occasions referred to, that on all these occasions striking develop- 

 ments followed as regards rainfall in Northern India. I have also 

 pointed out that there is a fair amount of evidence that the changes 

 were initiated from the north, and were propagated in the first instance 

 through the upper strata lying over Northern India. 



When it is remembered that Sir J. Eliot in his system of weather 

 discussion and forecasting relies entirely on the registers furnished by 

 observers, and that series of changes affecting Northern India through 

 the medium of the upper strata of the atmosphere appear not to enter 

 into his calculations, it becomes intelligible how such remarkable occur- 

 rences as those of 1902 are overlooked by him, even at a time when 

 similar occurrences are in progress in 1903. It also becomes intelligible 

 how he arrived at the inferences for 1902, already quoted, and here 

 repeated, that — " It hence follows that, the causes, actions or conditions 

 determining the weakness of the Arabian Sea current in the first half 

 of the period, and its strength during the second half, are not to be 

 sought for in India or the Indian monsoon land area, but most probably 

 in the remaining portion of the area of the complete monsoon air cir- 

 culation, viz., the south-east trades region of the Indian Ocean," 



It also becomes intelligible how it is possible that on such a system 

 forecasts show " no appreciation of the extraordinary character of the 

 season"; but therewith must be placed the verdict that it is the 

 system which is at fault and not those on whom the responsibility has 

 been placed of carrying out the system. 



