12 
On the Temperature of the Sea, and its Influence 
eastern prolongation of the waters of the Gulf Stream were likely 
to be more apparent than in mid-ocean. 
The Table, No. 1, shows that the sea-water on our coast-line is 
coldest at the end of February, and warmest at the end of August. 
That the greatest heat in January is found around the Scilly 
Isles and on the western coast of Ireland, and that the coldest part 
of the sea in this month is not at the northern extremity of Scot- 
land, but on the eastern coast of England. 
The water at Bunown, on the west side of Ireland, is 12° 
warmer than on the east side of England, at Yarmouth. 
The January chart enables us to trace the variations of sea- 
temperature around the coast-line. In this month the tempera- 
ture of the surface-water off the Land's End is 51° ; on the western 
side of Ireland 49° ; at the Hebrides 46° ; at Orkney 44° ; and 
at Shetland 43°. 
Thus, in a latitudinal distance of 10° the'decrease of tempera- 
ture northward over the sea on our western coast is only 8°, 
while within the same extent of latitude the decrease on the land 
in the middle of the Eastern continent is 45°, and on the 
American continent 32°. 
Continuing our survey down the Eastern coast we find, with 
some variations, a decreasing sea-temperature going southward 
from 44° at Orkney to 37° at Great Yarmouth, where the winter 
minimum is found. 
We are also led to the conclusion that the German Ocean is 
but little influenced by any warm Avater which may pass through 
the Strait of Dover from the Gulf Stream, but that its winter 
warmth is mainly maintained by the much greater body of tepid 
water which the strong tides carry around the north of Scotland. 
This eastern sea is not only placed beyond the full influence of 
the warm current from the south, but its winter temperature is 
further depressed by the cold stream from the Baltic, and cooled 
by the icy floods of the continental rivers. 
From mid-winter to the middle of April the sea remains at an 
almost uniform temperature, which rises rapidly in June and 
July, and reaches its maximum in August. At this season, under 
the influence of summer sunshine and the heat arising from the 
land-surface of the Continent, the sea-water on the eastern coast 
has a somewhat higher temperature than on the western. 
The January chart also shows us that the surface water of the 
ocean 500 miles west of Ireland is uniformly 3° warmer than 
the water on the coast line. 
But in order to comprehend the full effect of oceanic influ- 
ence on our climate, we must extend our researches still further 
westward, to the birthplace of the south-west wind, and examine 
that portion of the sea from whence its warmth and humidity 
are mainly derived. The charts of sea temperature, which I 
