ARTICT.E XXXIV.-THE METEOROLOGY OF CAMPBELL ISLAND. 



By Professor P. Marshall, M.A., D.Sc, F.G.S., Scliool of Mines, Otago University. 



The arrival of the expedition on the 17th November, 1907, was marked by a dark, 

 lowering sky, with a fresh breeze from the north-north-west. Mist occasionally 

 shrouded the tops of the hills, and a few drops of rain were falling. Generally, 

 meteorological conditions were quite similar to those close to the eastern side of the 

 Southern Alps on the approach of a cyclone. 



During the night the wind changed to south-west, and blew a moderate gale. 

 The next day was cold, and punctuated by showers of rain, hail, sleet, and snow, 

 which continued into the night. But little snow lay on the ground, and this soon 

 melted on the next day, which broke fine ; but the wind soon backed into the 

 west, fog covered the hills, and rain fell. A change to the south-west brought 

 a fine day and bright sky on the 19th November. The wind dropped, and after- 

 wards sprang up from the north-east and veered to the north-west, where it 

 remained, blowing lightly till our departure, at which time fog again covered 

 the hill-tops. 



These weather-changes are exactly those which are experienced in the south 

 of New Zealand during the passage of a small double-centred depression. 



Until the publication of the "New Zealand Year-book" of 1907 the only in- 

 formation obtainable in regard to meteorological conditions in Campbell Island 

 were to be found in the charts issued by the Admiralty, the " New Zealand 

 Pilot," the " Deutsche Seewarte," and similar publications. In 1904 some meteoro- 

 logical instruments were installed, and the observations made in 1906 by Mr. 

 Nicholson, the manager of Captain Tucker's sheep-stations, were recorded in the 

 Year-book for 1907. 



In addition to these, I have been able to copy the records for 1905. The results, 

 which are summarised in tabular form, give information of a fairly accurate nature 

 as to the most important climatic features. 



In connection with these records, the following observations may be made, as 

 showing the relations between the climate of the island and that of the south of 

 New Zealand, and the advance that these data have made upon our previous know- 

 ledge of the meteorology of the island. 



WINDS. 



The tables show clearly that the prevailing winds blow from the quarter 

 between north and west. In 1905 these winds blew for 248 days; in 1906, for 278 

 days ; and for seven months of 1907, for 164 days. 



