1 77 
METEOROLOGICAL DATA 
EXHIBITING THE SPECIAL FEATURES AND PECU- 
LIARITIES OF CLIMATE OF THE WIRRAL 
PENINSULA, LIVERPOOL AND DISTRICT, AND 
ALONG THE COAST TO SOUTHPORT AND NEIGH- 
BOURHOOD. 
By J. Cairns Mitchell, B.D., F.R.A.S. 
As climate has a preponderating influence upon the flora of a 
district, it is desirable to supply meteorological data for the area 
under consideration in this volume. 
Three places have been selected, not only because they fairly 
represent the climatalogical conditions within the area dealt with in 
this book, but also as possessing thoroughly reliable meteoro- 
logical records extending over a period of years sufficiently long 
to give approximately accurate averages : — 
ist. Southport to the north, and on the coast, in latitude 
53° 39 ' 2" N., longitude 2 0 59' 4" W., and 37 feet above mean sea 
level. 
2nd. Liverpool. The old Observatory stood for twenty years 
close to the river, on the Waterloo Dock Pierhead, in latitude 
53 0 24' 48" N, longitude 3 0 o' 1" W., and 22 feet above mean sea 
level. For these years, from 1846 to 1865, shade temperature and 
rainfall observations are available for this station. With 1867, 
observations began at the new Liverpool Observatory, situated on 
Bidston Hill, about a mile West of the river, and 197 feet above 
mean sea level, in a very open and exposed position, in latitude 
53 0 24' 4" N., longitude 3 0 4' 20" W. 
3rd. Chester to the south, and at the head of the Dee estuary, 
in latitude 53 0 12' o" N., longitude 2 0 54' o" W., 59 feet above mean 
sea level. 
I.— TEMPERATURE 
(In shade and sun, on and under ground) 
comes first among the elements of climate that determine the 
nature and development of plant life. 
Three things must be carefully noted about it — mean and extreme 
values, variations , and modifying influences. 
