54 On the Temperature of the Sea, and its Influence 
When the north-east wind sets in early in March, after blowing- 
a season, it restores the balance of the atmosj)here, and the reflux 
wind from the south-west commences before the heat of spring 
Las been felt ; then heavy rain and evaporation chill both the 
soil and the air, the genial warmth of summer is retarded, and 
the continuous rains injure the corn-crops and flood the valleys. 
Thus in 185(), after the north-east wind Avas exhausted in the 
middle of May, the south-west wind began to blow with great 
power, and penetrated far into western Europe. In France, espe- 
cially, the Seine, the Loire, and the Rhone were flooded, towns 
and lowlands were inundated, houses and bridges swept away, 
and a large amount of life and property destroyed. 
Effects of iSea-temperature on tlie Climate. — These effects are 
principally manifested in a high winter temperature, and in the 
abundance and distribution of rain. The greatest influence of 
the warmth from the Atlantic on our shores is felt on the south- 
western coasts of both England and Ireland ; and I have there- 
fore been led carefully to examine the peculiar climate of the 
Scilly Isles, surrounded by the warm water of the sea and open 
to the full effect of the south-west wind, twenty miles beyond the 
Land's End. I obtained from St. Agnes' lighthouse a set of ob- 
servations extending over twelve years ; Mr. Moyle, of St. Mary's, 
kindly undertook to register day and night thermometers, and 
has sent me returns for six years. The results reduced to monthly- 
means and compared with the mean temperature for fifty years 
at Greenwich are as follows : — 
Table V. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
April. 
May. 
June. 
July. 
Aug. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
Year. 
Scilly Isles . 
Greenwich . 
46-3 
3G-9 
45-8 
38-7 
46-3 
41-6 
47-7 
46-2 
52-8 
52-9 
57-6 
59-1 
60- 2 
61- 8 
60-5 
Gl-2 
58-8 
56-6 
53-7 
50-2 
50-5 
43-1 
48-0 
39-3 
52-35 
49-0 
Thus the mean temperature of the islands exceeds that 
of Greenwich by 3^°, and in the month of January the 
mean heat at Scilly is above that of the neighbourhood of 
London. 
The temperature of the air upon the Atlantic which the south- 
west wind sweeps over our coasts in January is about 52^ before 
it is reduced by the colder air of the land ; and the effect of winds 
from other quarters is to cause a decline of warmth of 6° at Scilly 
and 8^ on the south-west of Ireland. 
The following: Table shows the relative amount of heat at the 
places mentioned during the winter months ; — 
