21 



THE WIND. 



OLsen-ations upon the velocity ami direction of the wind have been continued 

 by means of the anenioi^i-aiih and Robinson's Anemometer referrcl to in the 

 report for l;ust year. Tlie anemometer was blown from its place and con.siJerably 

 injured in the typhoon of October 4tli. Fortunately it was possible to repair 

 it but for a few weehs subsequent to that time the results are entirely based on 

 the records of the anemograph. Experience seems to have demonstrated tliat 

 the ordinary lighter forms of anemometer have not sufficient strength to resis^t 

 the high winds to which they are so frequently exposed at this point. It would 

 be extremely desirable if their construction could be modilied in some way so 

 that their power of resistance might be increased without at the same time 

 diminisliing their sensibility. 



Table G. gives the actual number of miles of movement of the atmosphere, 

 since the last ohservution, at each of the three observations for every day in the 

 year, with totals. From this it will be seen that the total movement of the air 

 during the year in all (lircetions was 53279.5 miles, being an average of 14.'3.5 

 miles for each day or a trifle more than 6 miles per hour. Compared with the 

 total movement for the previous year, this is an increase of nearly four tluuisand 

 miles or about eight percent of the whole. During tlic ^lonths of JIarch, Jlay, 

 July and September of 1880 the movement of the atmosphere was less than for 

 the corresponding months of 1879, but during the remainder of the year it was 

 considerably greater. Table H gives the direction of the wind at every observa- 

 tion made during the year. When there is no perceptible motion of the air at 

 the time of making the observation, the word "calm" is inserted. 



Table I exhibits the total movement of the atmosphere for every day in the 

 year with the i»revailing direction of the wind during the day and the maximum 

 and mininiuni movements for each month. As stated in the previous report it 

 is very difficult, in many instances, to determine the preia'ding direction cor- 

 rectly, hence it is highly probable that this table will, in certain cases, a]ipear 

 inconsistant with others. 



The maxinunn movement of the air in a single day occurred on March 20th 

 and amounted to 5G5.9 miles or an average of about 23. G miles per horn- for the 

 whole day. This is less than the maxinunn movement for 1879 which amounted 

 to 597.5 miles on December 2i;tli. Although on JIarch 20 the average velocity 

 during the whole day was higher than on any other day of the your, tlio real 

 ma.ximiun velocity of the wind was by no means reached on tlmt day. 'i'hia 

 occurred on the night of October 3 ami 4 at which time the wind rcaclied such 

 a degree of violence as tr) entitle it to a place among the most violent "typhoons" 

 which liave visited this region for several years. Some eitecial observations of 

 velocity of tlio wind and the barometric lieiglit were maile during the storm and 

 they arc referred to in another place, diagnims of the most important changes 



