1834.] On the influence of the Moon, #c. 345 



VI. — On the Influence of the Moon on Atmospherical Phenomena. 

 By the Rev. R. Everest, M. G. S. M. A. S. 



Having observed one or two coincidences in the Meteorogical Registers 

 which I could not but deem remarkable, I was induced to examine them 

 farther, in the hope of being able to furnish some rules which might be 

 of use to those whose occupations are affected by atmospheric changes, 

 such as the planter, the sea-farer, and others, and through them to the 

 whole community. With this view, I have confined my observations to the 

 chances of rain, that being the only uncertain condition in the bringing 

 of our harvests to perfection ; of heat and sunshine there is no lack at 

 any time. In pursuance of this object, I now beg to call your attention to 

 The influence of the Moon in producing rain. 



Having remarked that a great proportion of the spring showers fell near 

 the time of the new moon, I drew out a table of the quantity of rain that 

 had fallen in the first four months of each year, for eight years, (which 

 was as far back as I could obtain the registers,) showing at the same time 

 what number of days it fell, before, or after, the day of new moon (see 

 Table No. 1). From this it will appear that rain fell most abundantly 

 on the 2nd, 5th, 6th, and 7th days before the new moon, and the 6th day 

 after it, that, out of a sum total of 34,55 inches of rain, 25,31 inches fell 

 within seven days from the day of new moon, and only 9,24 in the rest 

 of the lunar period, being in the proportion of 2,73 : 1, for nearly equal 

 portions of time. If we take the quantities that fell in each year they 



are as foDows : 



Within 7 days of New Moon. Beyond that period. 



1825 



1-82 



0-58 



1827 



1-62 



100 



1828 



.. ., 0-16 



1-82 



1829 



1-72 



0.00 



1830 



. . .. 6-48 



0.74 



1831 



1832 



4-86 



• 1-85 



2-25 



1833 



,...„. 3.10 



1-00 















If instead of the quantities of rain we take the number of rainy days for 

 the same periods, we have 45 rainy days against 23, being a ratio of 

 nearly 2:1. For each year the quantities are — 



Within 7 days of New Moon. Beyond that period. 



1825 



8 



1827 



5 



1828 1 



1829 



3 



1830 



9 



1831 



8 



1832 



6 



1833 



. ..— 5 



Total , 



, .... 45 



y y 





4 

 3 

 5 

 

 3 

 4 

 2 

 2 



23 



