( 133 ) 



AN ELEMENTAEY SYNOPSIS OF THE DIUENAL 

 METEOEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS AT KIMBEELEY. 



By J. E. Sutton, M.A. (Camb.). 



(Eead October 29, 1902.) 



This paper is to be regarded as the fourth of the series planned 

 some years ago to embody a prehminary statement of the principles 

 of the meteorology of South Africa, particularly that of the great 

 Table-land, arranged in a form suitable to the requirements of the 

 physicist. The three previous papers have been read at former 

 meetings of the South African Philosophical Society, and are in 

 various stages of publication.'^' 



The matter in hand gives mainly a synopsis of the diurnal varia- 

 tions of the principal meteorological elements at Kimberley, as 

 observed and recorded by means of instruments of the highest 

 class. The observations selected for the purpose of comparison 

 inter se belong to the period 1898-1901 {i.e., four years) ; but for 

 occasional illustration a longer series will be introduced. Some, 

 but not much, reference will also be made to the work of the 

 eminent men who direct such studies elsewhere, under better con- 

 ditions of labour, perhaps, though with less advantage of geographical 

 position. 



The mathematical and numerical work as set forth in the Tables 

 may be accepted as generally accurate. Every value given here has 

 been tested twice at least, and wherever expedient mathematical 

 tables have been used in preference to mere processes of arithmetic, 

 being in some cases especially computed for the purposes of this 

 discussion. Previous experience, however, constrains me to admit 

 that errors may be more numerous than might antecedently have 

 been expected, in spite of the many tricks of verification that all 



* " The Winds of Kimberley," 1899 ; " Some Pressure and Temperature Eesults 

 for the great Plateau of South Africa," April, 1901; "Some Constants in the 

 Periodic Formulae," May, 1902. 



