REPORT ON METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, WISLEY, 1914. 83 



August. — During the first week of the month the weather was 

 unsettled and rainy, with rather low temperature for the season, condi- 

 tions which were due to the existence of a shallow cyclonic disturbance 

 over the Atlantic between Scotland and Iceland. With the final 

 dispersal of this disturbance an improvement took place, and over the 

 greater part of the kingdom the remainder of the month was warm, 

 and in most places dry. In the extreme north, and also in Ireland 

 and the south-west of England, there were occasional heavy falls of 

 rain ; but on the other hand a large portion of England suffered from 

 drought, and at Wisley the total fall of rain was less than half the 

 normal amount. Indeed, at Wisley the drought was the cause of much 

 trouble ; a great deal of fruit fell prematurely from the trees, and many 

 shrubs that had been planted some years, and had become established, 

 had to be frequently watered to keep them alive. But on the whole, 

 from the agriculturist's point of view, the weather was ideal, and what 

 was described as " bumper crops of wheat, potatos, beans, and hops " 

 were harvested in excellent condition. Bright sunshine was nearly 

 everywhere in excess of the average, and at Wisley its duration was 

 nearly half the greatest possible amount. The results of the Wisley 

 observations are given in the following table : — 



Mean temperature of the air in shade . . . .62-5° 

 Highest ,, „ „ „ . 83 0 on the 14th 



Lowest ,, 41 0 ,, 18th 



Lowest ,, on the grass . . . . . 33 0 18th 



Number of nights of ground frost ....... None 



At depth of 



1 ft. 2 ft. 4 ft. 



Mean temperature of the soil at 9 a.m. . . . 62*4° 61 '8° 59*6° 



Highest ,, ,, ,,„... 66° 64 0 6o° 



Lowest „ „ 6o° 6i° 59 0 



Mean relative humidity of the air at 9 a.m. (complete saturation being repre- 

 sented by 100), 79 per cent. 



Rain fell on n days, to the total depth of 1-03 in. (equivalent to about 4f 

 gallons of water to the square yard). Heaviest fall on any day 0-44 in., on the 

 5th. 



The prevailing winds were south-westerly. 



The average velocity of the wind was 3 miles an hour. 



There were 192 hours of bright sunshine, equal to 43 per cent, of the greatest 

 possible amount. 



There were two days on which no sunshine was recorded. 



September. — The fine weather of the latter part of August continued 

 into September, and, with the exception of a few days near the 

 middle, the whole of this month was warm, bright, and dry. The 

 unsettled interval was due to the passage eastward of centres of 

 atmospheric disturbance over the northern parts of the kingdom, 

 causing rain and strong winds from the westward over the whole of 

 the British Isles ; in some districts there were thunderstorms also, 

 and locally some very heavy falls of rain. But notwithstanding this 

 interlude the mean temperature for the month was a little above the 

 average over the whole kingdom, and the recorded amounts of bright 

 sunshine were also everywhere in excess of the usual amounts ; at 

 Wisley it exceeded an average of seven hours a day, which is more than 

 half the greatest possible amount ; and even in London the total 



