Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 387

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Meteorological Observations at Chusan.

JULY,

but the northerly monsoon could not be said to have commenced until the beginning of October. The following are the number of rainy days in each month. September 4 days, October 3 days, November 12 days, December 7 days, January 11 days, February 3 days.

0 Calm.

1 Light air,

Figures to denote the force of the wind.

2 Light breeze,

3 Gentle breeze,

4 Moderate breeze,

5 Fresh breeze,

6 Strong breeze,

7 Moderate gale,

8 Fresh gale,

9 Strong gale,

10 Whole gale,

11 Storm,

12 Hurricane,

Or just sufficient to give steerage way. Or that in which a well condi- ( I to 2 knots.

tioned man-of-war, with all sail set, and clean full, would go in smooth water, from

Or that to which she could just carry in chace, full and by

Royals, &c.

3 to 4 knots.

5 to 6 knots.

Single-reefed topsail and

top-gallant sails. Double-reefed topsails

jib, &c.

Triple-reeed topsail, &c. Close-reefed topsails and

courses.

Or that with which she could scarcely bear close-reefed main-topsail and reefed foresail. Or that which would reduce her to storm stay-sails-

Or that which no canvas could withstand.

If the above mode were adopted, the state of the wind might be regularly marked, in a narrow column, on the log-board every hour. Letters to denote the state of the weather.

b Blue sky; whether clear or hazy atmosphere.

c Clouds; detached passing clouds.

d Drizzling rain.

g Gloomy dark weather.

1 Lightning.

o Overcast; or the whole sky

p Passing temporary showers. r Rain; continued rain.

t

Thunder.

Visible clear atmosphere.

f Foggy; f Thick fog. h Hail.

m Misty hazy atmosphere. covered with thick clouds.

q Squally.

8 Snow.

u Ugly threatening appearance. w Wet dew.

Under any letter indicates an extraordinary degree.

By the combination of these letters, all the ordinary phenomena of the weather may be expressed with facility and brevity. Examples: Bcm, Blue sky, with passing clouds, and a hazy atmosphere. Go, Gloomy dark weather, but distant objects remarkably visible. Qpdli, Very hard squalls, with passing showers of drizzle, and accompanied by lightning with very heavy thunder.