Abstract
THE work of meteorological observation and discussion at this important station continues, as shown by these papers, to be prosecuted under Mr. Meldrum's direction with marked energy and success. The observations at the observatory, which are made live times daily, embrace atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, cloud, rainfall, wind, thunder, lightning, and meteors, of which the “Results’ present us with a full and carefully prepared summary. We observe with much satisfaction that a barograph is in operation at this important observatory, and very earnestly hope that future annual publications will give meteorologists what is greatly desiderated, viz., the data for the determination of the hourly barometric fluctuations of that region. It is stated that the monthly means of the dry and wet bulb thermometers have been derived from the observations at 6 and 9 ½ A.M. and 3 ½ and 9 ½ P.M.; but those of the barometer from the observations at 9 ½ A.M., 3½ P.M., and 9½ P.M. The formula employed in each case should in future be explicitly stated. We infer from an examination of the table that the barometric means are derived from the formula 9½ + 2 × 3½ + 9½ 4; but as regards the thermometers, we have no means of knowing how the observations at the four hours were combined in deducing the mean temperature, since the means of temperature at these hours are not printed. Considering the hours at which the observations are made, the best formula for the mean temperature would be 9½ + 3½ + 9½ + min. 4. But the most satisfactory course would be to give the averages at the observed hours, leaving it to each to deduce from these the approximate mean temperatures. In all published annual results the simple averages of actual observations ought to be given, and these should in no case be made to give way to averages hypothetically deduced.
Results of Meteorological Observations taken in 1872 at Mauritius; Monthly Notices of the Meteorological Society of Mauritius,
1873; pp. 23 to 53.
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Results of Meteorological Observations taken in 1872 at Mauritius; Monthly Notices of the Meteorological Society of Mauritius . Nature 10, 418 (1874). https://doi.org/10.1038/010418a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/010418a0