✨ Meteorological Observations
NOTES.
Atmospheric Pressure.—
The highest reading of the barometer observed during the year was 30·443 in., on August 8th; the lowest 28·660 in., on June 30th; range 1·783 in.
The greatest movement in 24 hours was a fall of ·872, on July 24th, preceding three days very bad S.W. weather. The mean pressure at different hours of the day was at 9.30 a.m., 29·793; 3.30 p.m., 29·749; 9.30 p.m., 29·797.
Temperature.—
The mean temperature of the atmosphere in the shade for the past two years was 53·05. The corresponding isothermal line in Europe passes nearly through the centre of France, from La Rochelle, on the west coast, to Turin, in Italy; but taking the temperature of the seasons into consideration, the climate of the Canterbury plains resembles more that of Plymouth and Torquay in the South of England, as shown by the following table:—
| Christchurch. | Turin. | Plymouth. | London. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring ... | 52·6 | 53·1 | 50·2 | 49·1 |
| Summer ... | 61·7 | 71·6 | 60·8 | 62·8 |
| Autumn ... | 54·1 | 53·8 | 53·1 | 51·3 |
| Winter ... | 43·8 | 33·4 | 44·4 | 39·6 |
| Year ..... | 53·0 | 53·0 | 52·1 | 50·7 |
The mean daily range for the same seasons respectively was, in Christchurch, in 1865, 19·7; 18·5; 15·6; 17·1. The extreme range of temperature in the shade for the same period was 64·1.
The temperature in the shade exceeded 80° on 17 days in the year, viz. in November 2, December 2, January 5, February 6, March 2.
February was the hottest, and July the coldest months in the year.
Terrestrial Radiation.—
Frost occurred on 110 nights in the year, viz., spring, 29; winter, 62; autumn, 17; summer, 2. The months which were entirely free from frost were January, February, and March. In no instance was it known to freeze at mid-day, and very seldom later than 9 a.m., although ice of considerable thickness sometimes accumulated in sheltered spots. The 16th August was the coldest night in the year, when the mercury fell 14·3 below freezing point.
Rainfall, in Christchurch, in 1865:—
| Month | No. of days, or days and nights with constant or more or less wet, almost continuous rain. | Days showery throughout. | Rainfall during the nights between sunset and sunrise. | Snowy nights. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| February | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| March | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| April | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| May | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| June | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| July | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| August | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| September | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| October | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| November | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| December | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 8 |
| Total | 25 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 107 |
This table shows that during the past year there were 285 days on which no rain fell between sunrise and sunset; of the remaining 80, 48 were suitable for out-door occupation during at least half the day; and 7 were only showery. The rainfall in inches in the different seasons was—Spring, 5·572; summer, 2·546; autumn, 9·307; winter, 6·924. Total, 24·349 inches.
Next Page →
Canterbury Provincial Gazette 1866, No 17
✨ LLM interpretation of page content
🎓
Meteorological Observations for Christchurch, 1865
(continued from previous page)
🎓 Education, Culture & ScienceWeather, Meteorology, Observations, Christchurch, Canterbury, Temperature, Pressure, Humidity, Radiation