614 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 



On December 28th, when drifting on the ice down Baffin's Bay, 

 McClintock says : — 



" "We have been in expectation of a gale all day. This evening 

 there is still a doubtful truce among the elements. Barometer 

 down to 28*83 ; thermometer up to +5°, although the wind has 

 been strong and steady from the N. for twenty-four hours, low 

 scud flying from the E., snow constantly falling. An hour ago 

 the wind suddenly changed to S.S.E. ; the snowing has ceased ; 

 thermometer falls and barometer rises." 



Northerly winds prevailed throughout December and January, 

 and McClintock attributes the drift down Baffin's Bay entirely 

 to the winds. He says, " During December Ave drifted 67 miles;- 

 '* We move before the wind in proportion to its strength ; we 

 ** remain stationary in calm weather ; neither surface or submarine 

 " current has been detected." 



A table of the winds and ice-drifts is given on p. ilO. 



Capt. Allen Young, in his summary of the voyage, says : — 



" Dec. 26th, 74° N., 66° W. During Divine Service the wind 

 increased, and towards the afternoon we had a gale from the 

 north-westward, attended by an unusual rise of temperature. The 

 gale continued on the 28th with a ivarm ivhid from the north 

 north-west." 



*' The Danish settlers at Upernavik are at times startled by a 

 similar sudden rise of temperature. During the dejDtli of winter, 

 when all nature has been long frozen, rain sometimes falls in 

 torrents. This rain comes with the ivarm south-east ivind'^ 



McClintock notices the formation of icebergs going on in 

 Melville Bay in August 1857, when the mean temperature of the 

 air is -f- 35° F. when drifting in the pack down Baffin's Bay. 



The mean temperature for February 4858 was —16° F., for 

 June -f 36°, and for July -|-40°. 



At Port Kennedy. — The mean temperature for January 1859 

 was -33°; for February, -32°; for March, -3°. 



The minimum temperature of the earth 2 feet below the 

 surface was found to be half a degree above 0° F. during the 

 winter of 1858-59. 



The greatest cold recorded was —48° F., in January and again 

 in February at Port Kennedy ; and the maximum temperature of 

 those months, —14° and —12° F. 



June was the warmest, and January the coldest month. 



The greatest cold at Port Kennedy was generally recorded 

 during five days after full moon. The five-daily means of 

 McClintock's observations, both in Baffin's Bay and Port Kennedy, 

 bear out the statements of Artie travellers that it is coldest about 

 the time of the full moon. This is also borne out by the obser- 

 vations of Sir John Ross and of Dr. Kane. 



A comparison of the temperature with the direction of the wind 

 shows that in Baffiji's Bay the S.E. wind is the warmest, next to 

 it the N.E., and the S.W. the coldest. 



At Port Kennedy the East wind is warmest, next to it the 

 South, and the N.W. the coldest. 



