186 
J. HOPKINSON—METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 
There is no strongly-marked feature in the weather of the year 
1883, taken as a whole. Although the rainfall was less than in any 
one of the previous eight years, it was still above the average of a 
long period, and the number of days on which rain fell was also 
high. The temperature was slightly above the average ; its extreme 
range was less even than in 1882, owing to no low minimum having 
been recorded, the lowest being only 1l°-5 below freezing point, and no 
very high maximum ; but the mean range was a little in excess of 
the average. The mean pressure of the atmosphere was about the 
average; there were a few exceptionally high and some rather low 
pressures, the range being from 28-968 to 30-860 inches. 
Difference in 1883 from means of 1878-82, at Watford. 
Months. 
Pressure. 
Temperature. 
Tension 
of 
Vapour. 
Humi¬ 
Rainfall. 
Cloud 
0-10. 
Mean. 
Daily 
Range. 
dity. 
Total. 
Days. 
January. 
—•257 
-|-6-o 
-0-7 
+ •045 
+2 
+1-05 
+9 
—0-4 
February 
+•138 
+2-6 
+2-i 
+ •022 
-f-I‘I 2 
— 1 
-07 
March . 
—-065 
-6-5 
—2-3 
— •044 
+2 
—0-46 
—2 
— 0*9 
£P ril . 
+•124 
-fo-8 
+i ‘9 
—-006 
—4 
-I- 4 I 
—7 
+ 0-3 
May . 
—•054 
—0-3 
—0-4 
—*oi6 
—2 
-0-51 
—3 
-fo -4 
June . 
+ -060 
-hi-o 
+ 3*3 
4--OOI 
—2 
-2-03 
—6 
— J, 3 
July . 
— •054 
—1-6 
—<o ’5 
—-026 
— 1 
+ 0-53 
= 
4-1-2 
August . 
+•151 
-fro 
+ 3’9 
—•035 
—9 
—2-64 
—4 
— 0-5 
September 
—*128 
—o-6 
—17 
— '022 
—2 
+0-74 
+4 
-fo-6 
October. 
+ •058 
+2-7 
—1*0 
+ '025 
— 1 
- 1-23 
4 - 0-7 
November 
— •150 
-bo -6 
+ 2-4 
+ •015 
+6 
-|-I -20 
+5 
4 - 0-2 
December 
+■260 
+3'’4 
— 2-8 
-|~-020 
—2 
-i’55 
+2 
4-0-9 
Year ... 
+•003 
-fo -8 
- 1-0 -4 
—-002 
— 1 
—5*i9 
—3 
= 
Compared with the previous year, in 1883 the mean temperature 
was 0 o, 2 lower, the mean daily range 0°*2 greater, the relative 
humidity 3 per cent, less, and the rainfall more than 5 inches less. 
Rain (or snow) fell on 16 days less in 1883 than in 1882, and snow 
(only) on 3 days more. The sky was more frequently clear of cloud 
and less completely overcast, though the mean amount of cloud was 
the same in both years. The estimated force of the wind was less 
than in 1882. The smaller rainfall in 1883, and the absence of 
such a great preponderance of S.W winds as there was in 1882, 
seem to be the chief features of divergence in the weather of the 
two years. 
In the winter of 1882-83 (Dec. to Deb.) the mean pressure of the 
atmosphere was below the average, the mean temperature was un¬ 
usually high, the relative humidity was considerable, and the 
rainfall was very heavy. In the spring (March to May) the mean 
pressure was about the average, the mean temperature was 
unusually low, being only 5° higher than in the winter, the relative 
humidity was about the average, and the rainfall was below it, and 
