SUNSPOT PERIODS AND THE YORK 
RAINFALL. 
This question was considered to a slight extent in the paper 
on “ Fifty Years of York Meteorology,” printed in the 
Report for 1891. The conclusion was then drawn that the 
annual rainfall did not give any special indication either way. 
The fifty years included four maxima and five minima. 
Taking 16 years selected about each of these periods, it was 
found that the 16 nearest the four maxima gave 422*58 
inches of rain, and the 16 nearest the five minima gave only 
385'65 inches. The fluctuation of 36*93 inches, or 9J°/ 0 , falls, 
of course, very far short of yearly fluctuations, or even de¬ 
cennial values, thanks to the exceptional nature of the 
seventies. 
When, however, the monthly values for the four wettest 
months were considered there was a decided contrast. This 
has led me to examine all twelve months in the same manner. 
The results are exhibited in the accompanying table. 
Month by month there is great irregularity, as might be 
expected, from the comparatively small numbers dealt with. 
It is obvious, however, that during maxima, there is a tendency 
to excess of rainfall, with a small exception in May and a 
most marked minimum in August. The former may well be 
accidental. It is difficult to suppose such to be the case in the 
latter. The difference changes from a negative value of nearly 
twenty inches, or 61% of the value at maxima, to a positive 
value of nearly 11 inches (or 33%) in September, and 14£ 
inches (or 44%) in October. June, likewise, has an excess of 
nearly 40%, whereas July is practically the same at maxima 
and minima, thus preparing the w r ay for August. The 
popular attribution of broken weather after St. Swithin’s 
suggests that, were July taken day by day, or week by week, 
the change from positive to negative might show itself about 
the last week of the month. 
If the months are “ Bloxamised ” in couples the curve 
remains positive all through, except for the July-August- 
September period. It ranges from +38 J% for September- 
October to —21 J% for July-August. 
This single but considerable exception to the general excess 
of rainfall in periods of sun-spot maxima becomes, it will be 
noticed, a matter of supreme importance from its happening 
about harvest time. It gives a sufficient reason for sun-spot 
