METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 615 



McClintock also notices a dense and continued mist over Bellot 

 Strait, caused by considerably warmer water than the air above 

 it ; and strong local winds. 



The prevailing winds in Baffin's Bay and at Port Kennedy are 

 about N.W. by N., whereas the prevailing winds at Van Rensse- 

 laer are S. by W., or S.S.W. 



The average velocity of the resulting wind in miles per hour 

 was : — In Baffin's Bay, 6 miles per hour ; at Port Kennedy, 

 11*4; and at Van Rensselaer, 4*5 miles per hour. 



At Port Kennedy the average velocity of most of the winds 

 was about 10 or 12 miles an hour; but of the S. and S.E. winds 

 the average velocity was from 19 to 20 miles an hour. 



The Barometer. 



The more remarkable storms at Port Kennedy were accom- 

 panied by sudden falls of the barometer. 



Readings were generally taken with the aneroid barometer, 

 but observations Avere made with both the aneroid and an excel- 

 lent mercurial barometer during the stay at Port Kennedy. 



The discussion of the observations with the barometers shows 

 that the hourly and bi-hourly series of observations give the same 

 mean, and that the mean deduced from observations every four 

 hours does not differ much from them. 



Inches. 

 Mean of 24 observations a day - 30 • 049 



12 „ „ - 30-049 



6 „ „ - 30-047 



The diurnal variation of the barometer in Bajffin's Bay, in 

 latitude 72° '5 N., shows an increase from 4 a.m. to 6 p.m., and a 

 more rapid diminution from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. ; the pressure having 

 its mean value at midnight and at 10 a.m. 



At P(yrt Kennedy, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., there is a rapid fall 

 of the barometer, then a rapid rise to the mean value at 9 a.m., 

 still a rise until noon, then the barometer remains pretty steady, 

 but on the whole rising a little until 10 p.m. 

 The range of fluctuations is : — 



Inches. 

 In Baffin's Bay - - - 0-028 



Port Kennedy - - - 0*048 



Van Rensselaer - - - 0-010 



PortFoulke - - - - 0-014 



2. Record of Dr. Kane's Meteorological Observations. 

 " Smithsonian Contributions," vol. 11. 



The Meteorological Observatory was a wooden structure, 140 

 yards from the ship, on the open ice floe, latticed and pierced 

 with holes on all sides, and flrmly frozen to the ice. To keep out 

 drift, a series of screens Avere placed at right angles to each other, 

 so as to surround the inner chamber in which the thermometers 

 were suspended. They were read and illuminated through a 

 lens and pane of glass without going inside the screens. 



