SECTION II. 



REPORT ON METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS MADE AT 



FUNAFUTI. 



B,j H. C. Russell, G.M.G., F.R.S. 



From a meteorological point of view Professor Sollas's stay oii the island, extending 

 over June and July, was much too short to give a complete idea of the climate, but 

 it is interesting as an index of the climate of an island within 10° of the equator 

 in the two winter months. 



He was provided with a set of higli-class thermometers, consisting of wet and 

 dry bulb thermometers, with Kew certificates that they had no errors ; also with a 

 maximum, with an error of + 0°'2 Fahr. by Kew certificate, which has been applied, 

 and a minimum without error. A shade was constructed by building a small hut 

 with banana logs. 



As will be seen by comparison with Fiji observations, it was a satisfactory one. 

 The observations in June show that the temperature at 9 a.m. ranged from 89°'8 Fahr. 

 on the 11th to 76°'5 on the 16th. The cool days were cloudy ones. The maximum 

 temperature, 94°'0, was reached on the 11th and 12th, and the lowest maximum, 

 81^'5, on the 6th; the lowest temperature at night was 74°'3 on the 22nd. The 

 greatest range of temperature on any day was 16°'7, i.e., from 91'^"0 to 74°'3 on the 

 22nd. 



The average 9 a.m. temperature was 83°'8 in June, and 83°'4 in July, and the 

 highest in July was 88°'3 on the 28th and 30th, and the lowest was 77°"5 on the 17th. 

 The maximum temperature ranged from 91°'5 to 78°, the mean 87°'4 ; in June it 

 was from 94° to 81°*5, and the mean 88°"8. The minimum temperature ranged from 

 81° to 75°, and mean of maximum and minimum 82°'7, while in June the range was 

 from 79°'6 to 74°"3, and the mean of maximum and minimum, or the mean shade 

 temperature, 82°'8, so that practically the temperatures of these months were alike. 



The greatest humidity in July was 94 per cent, on the 16th, corresponding with 

 that in June, and the least 60 per cent. ; that in June being 65 per cent., but 

 the average for July is 78 per cent., compared with 79 per cent, in June. 



The nearest point at which regular meteorological observations are taken is 

 Suva, Fiji, which is almost in the same longitude as Funafuti, and 8|-° farther 

 south, and, according to the experience in Australia and elsewhere, a place should be 

 about 1° cooler for each degree of difference in latitude. 



