1 87 1.] Meteorology. 125 



The climate is therefore distinctly "insular," but cooler than that of these 

 islands. It is also slightly cooler than that of the Falkland Islands. 



The rainfall is not so heavy as at most of the stations on the West Coast of 

 Patagonia. In connection with this statement, Dr. Hann cites Darwin's remark 

 that the eastern entrance of the Straits is barren and rainless, while at the 

 other extremity the hills are well wooded and watered. 



We are glajd to say that this paper is only the precursor of others on the 

 climate of South America which Dr. Hann promises to give us. 



The notice of Bear Island is based upon observations made by a Norwegian, 

 Captain Tobiesen, who spent the winter of 1865-6 on the island. The chief 

 point to which we should draw attention is the extreme lateness of the winter ; 

 the coldest month is March, the climate being mainly regulated by the sea 

 surface temperature, which reaches its lowest point in that month. 



Professor Mohn, Director of the Meteorological Institute of Norway, has 

 made a most valuable contribution to the science of weather in his Storm 

 Atlas, which has just appeared. This contains an account of several storms 

 felt in Norway in the years 1867-8. One of these, that of March 31, 1868, was 

 chiefly felt at the Loffoden Islands, and was in a more northerly locality than 

 any storm which has hitherto been studied. 



Each period is copiously illustrated by charts. We have first a chart of the 

 entire disturbance, with the paths of the several centres of depression which 

 may have been noticed. For each day four charts are given : one large one, 

 showing the observations of the barometer, wind, and weather, for 8 a.m. ; 

 a second smaller one gives the same information for 8 p.m. The other two 

 charts show the variations of the barometer and thermometer respectively for 

 the twenty-four hours succeeding the date of the large chart. Thermometrical 

 readings are not given, except in the form of the variation chart just 

 referred to. 



On one chart, as a specimen, the tension of aqueous vapour is given. 

 Professor Mohn prefers this mode of representation of moisture to charts of 

 either humidity or the hygrometrical state of the air. 



The charts show a number of barometrical maxima and minima, each 

 surrounded by isobaric lines. The minima are usually indicative of storms. 

 The form of the innermost curve is generally oval, its major axis lying — 

 E. and W. seven times ; N.W. and S.E., twice ; N. and S., eleven ; N.E, 

 and S.W., five ; and indeterminate, seven times. 



In the cases in which the direction of advance of the minima was clearly 

 marked, it was found to be, on the average, Eg°S, and its mean rate 26 

 miles per hour. 



All the storms travelled fastest over the ocean, slackened in speed when 

 crossing Scandinavia, but increased again over Russia. In all cases the easterly 

 component of this motion diminished regularly as the storm advanced from the 

 sea into the interior of the continent. 



The mean barometrical reading at the centre of the depression was 28*84 i n « 

 over the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans ; 28-68 in. over Scandinavia ; and 29*14 in. 

 over Russia. The storms, therefore, increased in violence when passing over 

 Norwa3 7 , and died out gradually on reaching Russia. 



The mean direction from which the wind blew during the storms was S.E. 

 on nine occasions; S.W. on sixteen; N.W. on twenty-two; and N.E. on 

 thirteen. 



Aqueous vapour is always in greatest abundance on the southern side of the 

 path of the centre of depression. It does not, however, travel onwards with 

 the advance of the storm. There appear to be certain districts where moisture 

 is constantly present in quantity. These are Portugal, the Mediterranean, 

 South of Sicily, and the Atlantic, off the coast of Ireland. 



The variation charts show some very interesting facts. Thus, the probable 

 advance of the centre of depression on any day is shown by the next succeeding 

 variation chart. However, on this entire question, which is quite novel, we 

 must look to Professor Mohn to explain his views more thoroughly, for his 

 present statement of them is not at all clear. 



The second portion of the work is a theoretical account of the origin of 

 storms in general, which, on the whole, agrees with that given by Mr. Buchan, 



