673375-1884-Weather-Report-April-1884- — Page 1

SUPPLEMENT TO THE HONGKONG GOVE GAZETTE OF 31ST MAY, 1884. 513

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 209.

The following report from the Government Astronomer for the month of April, 1884, is published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 31st May, 1884.

HONGKONG OBSERVATORY.

Weather Report for April, 1884.

FREDERICK STEWART,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

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 as far north as Shanghai. It also contains information concerning the weather prevailing in Nagasaki and Wladiwostock.

At the beginning of the month the Barometer was rising and the Temperature and Humidity falling. Gradients indicated moderate Easterly winds, which rose to a NE. gale accompanied by a high sea and rainy weather. On the 3rd a change set in, the Barometer fell, the Temperature and Humidity rose, and gradients indicated light winds. The Barometer continued low, the Temperature was rising, and rainy weather, with much fog at sea, continued up to the 7th. Gradients indicated calm s or light Westerly winds. On the 7th the Barometer began to rise, the Temperature and Humidity fell, and Gradients indicated Easterly winds. Fresh NE. breezes were followed by a high sea on the 9th and 10th at a distance from the shore. On the 10th the Barometer fell and continued thereafter steady up to the 20th. The Temperature rose on the same day. Gradients indicated calmis or light winds. The sky was overcast from the beginning of the month up to the 15th, when it cleared partly. On the 20th the Barometer fell (but rose again on the 22nd) and the Temperature and Humidity rose. This was followed by light winds, with much fog at sea. Gradients indicated light Westerly winds up to the 27th. On the 27th the Barometer rose, the Temperature and Humidity fell, and the wind rose to a gale from NE. indicated by the Gradients. On the 28th, the wind calmed down and the Barome- ter fell.

The Barograph and the Standard Barometer at the Observatory are placed 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 Mini- mum Thermometer is about one inch above the ground. They are placed over dry earth, as the ground round the Observatory has not yet been turfed. The self-recording Rain-gauge is placed 106 feet above Mean Sea Level, and the rim, which is 11 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 about 1823 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 Radia- tion 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 Burograms. The Mean Height of the Barometer was 29.868, the Highest was 30.040 at 10 a. on the 2nd, and the Lowest was 29.621 at 4 p. on the 21st. The Barometric Tide amounted to 0.034.