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meteorology.
3
METEOROLOGY.
The meteorological data in Table 2 are the records obtained at the Botanical Gardens,
Regent's Park, which were published in The Times early in January last. The past summer
was, however, of an exceptional character—a summer which, judging from past experience,
should have produced a very severe epidemic of infantile diarrhoea. It has been thought
desirable, therefore, to discuss the year's meteorological records (or rather some of them) in
more detail than is usual.*
In all the twelve districts into which the United Kingdom is divided for meteorological
purposes, the total amounts of bright sunshine {i.e., sunshine sufficiently strong to make a record
by burning the paper of a Campbell-Stokes Recorder) registered during the year were in excess
of the 25-year averages (1881-1905), the excess ranging from 7 per cent, in the Channel Islands
to 21 per cent, in " England, S.E." (including London) and " England, N.W." In London, itself,
last year's total sunshine was the largest on record. If a " very fine " week be defined as one in
which the amount of bright sunshine exceeds 50 per cent, of the possible {i.e., if the number of
hours of record exceeds one-half of the total number of hours during which the sun is above the
horizon), then the number of such weeks in London was 15 last year, or three times the average
for the previous 30 years. With the exception of the week ending August 26th, each of the
13 weeks of July-September gave a record of bright sunshine of more than 50 per cent, of
the possible. In the week ending August 19th the record was 75 per cent, of the possible.
As regards temperature, it will be seen from Table 2 that the mean of the dry-bulb
thermometer (9 a.m.) readings was the highest of the series for the six years, but not very
different (only 0'4° higher) from the mean for 1906. The maximum reading for the year (96a
on August 9th) was but 2° above the maximum reading for 1906 (94° on September 1st), but
high temperatures, considerably in excess of the average, were the rule throughout JulySeptember,
the maximum for July being 918° (on the 22nd) and that for September 92 5° (on
the 8th). According to the Report of the Meteorological Office, temperatures of 97° were
registered in many parts of London on August 9th, the thermometer reading at 100° that day
at Greenwich, 3° higher than the highest reading previously recorded at the Observatory since
its foundation in 1841. In September three specially hot spells occurred, one on the 2nd, when
the thermometer reached 90°; a second on the 7th and 8th, with readings of 94° (at Greenwich),
and a third on the 12th, with a maximum of 89° (at Camden Square). During those three
months minimum readings of 65° were common during the night.
The average figures for the three months July September in London are of special interest,
bearing in mind the connection between meteorological conditions and the prevalence of infantile
diarrhcca. The following data are from the Registrar-General's Third Quarterly Report:—
Mean temperature 65'6°: difference from average + 4.5°
Total sunshine (hours) 777: „ „ ,, +290
Total rainfall (inches) 3.1: „ „ „ - 3.8
Much as the total amount of sunshine exceeded the average, the number of days on which
sunshine was recorded at Regent's Park last year was less than that noted in any of the preceding
five years. (See Table 2.)
As regards rainfall, the year, as a whole, did not depart much from the average, the record
(based on 27 stations) amounting to 34.53 ins., or 98 per cent, of average. There were, however,
notable deficiencies in the months of July-September, when the amounts measured were 19, 71,
and 81 per cent, of the respective averages. Droughts lasting for various periods up to 28 days
occurred in the country from and after the beginning of July, and a second drought took place
between August 2nd and'20th. It will be seen from Table 2 that during these three months
rain was measured on 20 days only, and that the total amount measured was 4-09 ins. At
Camden Square, the total rainfall for the year was 24.79 ins., only 0'32 in. less than the average
*Those interested in the subject will find much information in two articles published by The Times, viz.,
"The Rainfall of 1911" (January 16th) and "The Sunshine of 1911" (January 23rd), both of which have been
drawn on largely.