NO. 17]. 



BAROMETRICAL DEPRESSIONS AND THEIR MOTION. 



583 



The velocity of the wind observed during the passage of depressions is 

 not great. The highest is 18 m. p. s. and the mean of the highest observed 

 is 9'7 m. p. s. The average velocity of the wind during the drift of the Fram 

 is 4'5 m. p. s. (p. 309). The highest velocities observed in the various months 

 are shown in the Table on p. 306. Their average is, 



for 1893, 15-2 m. p. s. 



- 1894, 12-3 — 

 ■ 1895, 12-0 — 



- 1896, 12-6 — 



and for the whole period, 12"7 m. p. s. 

 Judging from these velocities of the wind, the track of the Fram cannot 

 be regarded as a stormy one, a fact which seems rather strange when we 

 take into consideration the level nature of the surface of the earth. The 

 coast and islands belonging to the Arctic Ocean show higher velocities of the 

 wind. In published Reports I have found the following registered maximum 

 velocities: 



Pitlekai (Vega, Nordenskiold) .... 1879 28-2 m. p. s. 

 Ssagastyr, Mouth of the Lena .... 1882 22 — 



Karmakul, Novaya Zemla 1883 40 — 



Teplitz Bay, Franz Joseph's Land . . 1900 24-8 — 

 Cape Thordsen, Spitzbergen .... 1882 20-5 — 



Column 4 of the Table on p. 579 shows the direction of the motion of 

 the barometrical depressions. The following Table shows the number of 

 cases of each direction, for the entire period of 3 years, for the winter half- 

 year (October — March), and for the summer half-year (April — September). 



