SUPPLEMENT
To the HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE of 11th July, 1885.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 279.
The following report from the Government Astronomer, for the month of October, 1884, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 11th July, 1885.
FREDERICK STEWART,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
HONG KONG OBSERVATORY.
Weather Report for October, 1884.
In the China Coast Meteorological Register, based on information transmitted by the Great Northern and the Eastern Extension Telegraph Companies-which I have published daily, is given a summary of the atmospheric circumstances in Manila and along the Coast of China between Haiphong and Shanghai. It also contains information concerning the weather in Nagasaki and Wladivostock.
During the greater part of the month, fresh NE winds with occasional squalls prevailed over the northern part of the China Sea. A typhoon of very limited extent came up from the East, and passed southern Luzon on the 26th in about 13° N latitude. The barometer readings reported from Manila reached a maximum 30.03 at 10 a. on the 23rd. The sky was then blue. The following day a light air blew from NE and clouds came up. On the 25th signs of the typhoon approaching were noticed by the mariners. At 10 a. on the 26th the height of the barometer reported from Manila was 29.85. The weather was squally and misty. At this time the centre of the typhoon was nearly due south of Manila. At 4 p. a gentle breeze blew from E. Southerly winds were felt on board ships south of Luzon. The typhoon passed westward and disappeared in the evening. At 10 a. on the 27th the height of the barometer was 29.95 and one or two tenths of an inch of rain had fallen in Manila. During the afternoon, the wind veered to the South blowing in Manila with the force of a light air, and at Bolinao with the force of a light breeze. On the 28th and following days the sky was blue. No reference to this typhoon was made in the China Coast Meteorological Register.
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The Barograph and the Standard Barometer at the Observatory are placed at 110 feet above Mean Sea Level. The bulbs of the Thermograph Thermometers are 111 feet above Mean Sea Level and 6 feet above the ground. They are exposed in an unpainted and double-louvered zinc screen fixed to the north wall of the main building in a shaded position. The Solar Radiation Maximum Thermome- ter is 109 feet above Mean Sea Level and 4 feet above the ground, and the Terrestrial Radiation Minimum Thermometer is about one inch above the ground. The self-recording Rain-gauge is placed 106 feet above Mean Sea Level, and the rim, which is 114 inches in diameter, is 21 inches above the ground. The cups of the Anemograph are 45 feet above the ground, and 150 feet above Mean Sea Level.
At Victoria Peak the Instruments, except the Radiation Thermometers, are placed in the Look- out. The Barometer is 1821 feet above Sea Level. The bulbs of the Thermometers are about 4 feet above the floor, except the Maximum Thermometer, which is a few inches higher. The Radiation Thermometers are placed at the same height above the ground as at the Observatory. At Cape d'Aguilar the Thermometers are placed about 170 feet above Sea Level (according to the Government Gazette) in a wooden screen 2 feet above the ground, except the Maximum Thermometer, which is a few inches higher.
Table I exhibits the hourly readings of the height of the Barometer reduced to 32° .0 Fahrenheit, but not to Sea Level, as measured (at two minutes to the hour named) from the Barograms. The Mean Height of the Barometer was 29.920, the Highest was 30.102 at 9 a. on the 23rd, and the Lowest was 29.730 at 3 a. on the 2nd. The Barometric Tide amounted to 0.083.
Table II exhibits the hourly readings of the Temperature (Dry Bulb Thermometer) as measured from the Thermograms (at two minutes past the hour nanied), and also the Extreme Temperatures during the day. The Mean Temperature was 77.2, the Highest was 86.2 at 3 p. on the 5th., and the Lowest was 67.6 at about 6a. on the 16th.
Table III exhibits the hourly readings of the Temperature of Evaporation (Damp Bulb Thermo- meter) as measured from the Thermograms (at two minutes past the hour named) and also the Solar Radiation Maximum (Black Bulb) and Terrestrial Radiation Minimum Temperatures.