REPOKT ON METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT WISLEY. 133 



EEPOET ON METEOEOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT 

 WISLEY, 1909. 



By R. H. CuETis, F.R.Met.Soc. 



The meteorological observations have been carried on without a break 

 tliroughout the year. In March, however, a change was made in 

 the observer, owing to the resignation by Mr. Wallis of his appoint- 

 ment at Wisley. Mr. Wallis had taken the observations for eight 

 years, and w^as in every w^ay a most excellent observer, keenly interested 

 in his work, and most careful and accurate in his performance of it. 

 He has been succeeded by Mr. Miles, who had the advantage of being 

 trained by Mr. Wallis, and has taken the observations since the 

 beginning of March. 



From a meteorological point of view, the year was somewhat 

 exceptional. The summer was decidedly cool, and, indeed, the only 

 warm periods for their respective seasons were the months of April 

 and October. Rainfall was in excess of the average in these months, 

 and there was less than the usual amount of sunshine. 



The results for each month were as follows : 



January. — The weather of January may be summarized as having 

 been generally mild and unsettled, with a moderate amount of rain 

 during the first three w-eeks, followed by a dry, cold, and quiet period, 

 during which there was a considerable amount of fog. The wind blew 

 with greatest frequency from the south-west and west, and near the 

 middle of the month it was often rather strong, although it was only at 

 exposed places that it attained the force of a gale. During the earlier 

 part of the month the temperature rose to above 50° in almost all parts 

 of the kingdom, the south-eastern counties forming the chief exception, 

 although at night some low readings were occasionally registered upon 

 the grass ; but in the last week sharp frosts were very generally expe- 

 rienced, and the thermometer exposed upon the grass fell to a very 

 low point in many districts. At the Gardens the lowest point reached 

 in the screen four feet above the ground was 19° on the 29th, the 

 thermometer on the grass falling to 18°. 5, but in some districts readings 

 of 10° and less were recorded. The mean temperature for the month 

 was not very different from the average. The movements of the 

 barometer at the Gardens covered a range of rather more than an inch 

 and a quarter — from 30*62 in. on the 4th to 29-26 in. on the 15th. 

 There were no heavy falls of rain, and the total amount was consider- 

 ably below the average, while the amount of bright sunshine recorded 

 was somewhat above the average. 



