QC UC-NRLF G2.U+ E7E MAIN LIBRARY IfflFALL AID WEATHER REVIEW From September 1, 1849, to December 31, 1884. BY JAMES A. BARWICK, >BSERVER SERGEANT SIGNAL CORPS U. S. A., IN CHARGE OF THE U. S. SIGNAL OFFICE SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA. i RAINFALL AND WEATHER REVIEW. FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1849, TO DECEMBER 31, >884. '. j i ' , J BY JAMES A. BARWICK, OBSERVER SERGEANT SIGAL /C/RP$ JSl S? &, CHARGE OF THE U. S. SIGNAL OFFICE IN SACRAlV l) [-E'NTO/CA J LlF()flN > IA\ RAINFALL FOR THE WINTER SEASONS. The following tabulated statement shows the rainfall and number of days that rain fell for each Winter month; also, the total rainfall and total number of days that rain fell during the entire Winter seasons; the Winter seasons beginning with the Winter of 1852-3, and ending with the Winter of 1883-4. The three Winter months composing the Winter season that gave the heaviest rainfall was during the Winter of 1861-2: 27.94 inches. The driest Winter was that of 1863-4: 3.08 inches. The mean average rainfall for the Winter season, for the past thirty-two years, was 11.393 inches. We might judge from this that we should never have a Winter season of over twenty-eight inches, or one of less than three inches rainfall: DECEMBER. JANUARY. FEBRUARY. Total for Winter Months. Total No. Days for AVinter. Indies. No. of Days. Inches. No. of Days. Inches. No. of Days. 1852-3. 13.41 1.54 1.15 2.00 2.40 2.63 4.34 1.83 4.28 8.64 2.33 1.82 - 7.87 .36 9.51 12.85 2.61 1.96 .97 10.59 5.39 10.01 .44 5.52 20 4 8 13 13 13 17 17 20 22 11 10 16 9 21 18 11 7 6 22 13 21 17 14 3.00 3.25 2.67 4.92 1.38 2.44 .96 2.31 2.67 15.04 1.73 1.08 4.78 7.70 3.44 6.04 4.79 1.37 2.08 4.04 1.23 5.20 8.70 4.99 2.77 9.26 3.18 1.64 6.14 1.89 2.23 3.43 12 6 15 16 14 21 19 15 10 20 10 7 13 18 15 17 14 9 8 11 10 14 14 13 11 17 11 7 9 8 4 9 2.00 8.50 3.46 .69 4.80 2.46 3.91 .93 2.92 4.26 2.75 .19 .71 2.01 7.10 3.15 3.63 3.24 1.92 4.74 4.46 1.86 .55 3.75 1.04 8.04 3.88 1.83 5.06 2.40 l.ll 4.46 6 14 7 6 17 13 18 14 9 11 11 2 6 11 9 9 5 11 11 18 17 9 2 10 9 17 9 10 13 6 3 10 18.41 13.29 7.28 7.61 8.58 7.53 9.21 5.07 9.87 27.94 6.81 3.09 13.36 10.07 20.05 22.04 11.03 6.57 4.97 19.37 11.08 17.07 9.69 14.26 3.81 18.73 7.53 6.88 23.01 7.56 4.47 8.33 364.57 11.393 38 24 30 35 44 47 54 46 39 53 32 19 35 38 45 44 30 27 25 51 40 44 33 37 20 39 23 29 43 25 15 25 1,129 35.3 1853-4 1854-5 . 1855-6. 1856-7 1857-8 1858-9 - 1859-60 1860-1 1861-2 1862-3 1863-4 1864-5 1865-6 1866-7 1867-8 1868-9 1869-70 1870 1 1871-2 1872-3 1873-4 . 1874-5 1875-6 1876-7 1877-8 1.43 .47 3.41 11.81 3.27 1.13 .44 5 3 12 21 11 8 6 409 1878-9 1879-80 1880-1 1881-2 1882-3 1883-4 Totals 136.41 126.35 3.948 397 101.81 323 Averages for 32 y'rs. 4.262 12.8 12.4 3.182 10.1 MEAN SPRING RAINFALL. ^ /The tabk^be.lowcwill be found to contain the record of rainfall and number Gi 1 883-84 30 120 83 45 9 71 Fcb -* 1 ( Feb. 01 f) T? P U Totals... __ _ 210.881 543 9 331 8 70 = i 070 n 91 fl 1884 Averages 30.126 77.7 47.3 12 The average Spring pressure, relative humidity and temperature, the maximum and minimum Spring temperature, also the mean average for seven years past, will be found as follows, viz.: SPRING OF Mean Spring Barometer. Mean Spring Relative Humidity. Mean Spring Temperature. Max. Spring Temperature. Min. Spring Temperature. 1878 29.936 67.1 60.5 91.0 May 40.0 March 1879 30.046 68.4 59.3 91.0 May 38.0 March 1880 30 061 66 2 55 86.0 May 29.0 March 1881 30.006 68.4 60.4 88.8 Ma v 37.0 March 1882 30.037 61.9 57.6 94.6 Mav 34.1 March 1883 _ 30.009 68.9 58.5 9S.O May 39.8 April 1884 29.968 73.3 57.9 85.0 Mav 39.0 March Totals 210.063 474.2 409.2 Highest. Lowest, 98 18S3 29 1880 30 009 67.7 58.5 The tabulated statement following indicates the average Summer pressure, relative humidity and temperature, the maximum and minimum Summer temperature, and the mean average for seven years: SUMMER OF Mean Summer Barometer. Mean Summer Rel. Humidity. Mean Summer Temperature. Max. Summer Temperature. Min. Summer Temperature. 1878 29.817 54.7 72.9 100.5 Aug. 49.0 June 1879 . 29.821 52.7 72.9 103.0 Aug. 51.0 July 1880 29.880 59.3 69.1 98.0 July 49.0 Aug. 1881 29.903 56.3 68.5 98.6 July 48.0 June 1882 29.898 57.0 71.1 99.8 Aug. 51.2 June 1883 29.908 58.4 72.4 1 03.5 July 49.8 June 1884 29.919 63.3 69.8 100.0 Aug. 52.9 June Totals 209.146 401.7 496.7 Highest, Lowest, 103 5 1883 48 1881. 29 878 57 4 71.0 The following table shows the average Autumn pressure, rel humidity and temperature, the maximum and minimum Fall perature, and the mean averages for the past eight years : relative tern- FALL OF Mean Fall Barometer. Mean Fall Rel. Humidity. Mean Fall Temperature. Max. Fall Temperature. Min. Fall Temperature. 1877 29.973 54.3 63.4 88.0 Sept. 37.0 Nov. 1878 29.991 54.4 62.5 92.0 Sept. 34.0 Nov. 1879 30.000 65.2 60.9 96.0 Sept. 33.0 Nov. 1880 30.035 54.9 59.9 92.0 Sept. 27.0 Nov 1881 30.026 58.4 58.5 96.0 Sept. 32.0 Nov. 1882 30.024 69.6 58.8 99.6 Sept. 34.0 Nov. 1883 30.011 68.8 60.1 101.0 Sept. 2y.O Nov. 1884 30 000 69 1 60.0 93.5 Sept. 37.7 Nov. Totals 240.060 494.7 484.1 Highest, Lowest, 101 1883 27 1880. 30 008 61 8 80 5 13 The table following will be found to contain the average dir ection of the wind, the total velocity, the rainfall, and the clear, fair, and cloudy days; also, days rain fell during the Winter months from 1877-8 to 1883-4: WINTER OF M' n Winter Direction. Velocity for Winter. Kainfall for Winter. Clear Days. Fair Days. Cloudy Days. Days Rain Fell. 1877-78 S.E. 13.452 18.74 26 28 36 39 1 878-79 N. 12.650 7.53 44 31 15 23 1879-80 S.E. 13.735 6.88 39 17 35 29 1880-81 1881-82 S.E. N. 16.092 14.611 23.01 7.56 14 46 26 26 50 18 43 25 1882-83 S.E. 11.131 4.47 52 30 8 15 1883-84 S.E. 12.294 8.33 47 25 19 25 Totals 93.965 76.52 268 183 181 199 Averages S.E. 13.424 10.931 38.3 26.1 25 9 284 The average direction of the wind, total velocity, the rainfall, and number of clear, fair, and cloudy days, also number of days rain fell during the Spring season, from 1878 to 1884, will be found in the fol- lowing tabulated statement: SPRING OF Mean Spring Direction. Velocity for Spring. Rainfall for Spring. Clear Days. Fair Days. Cloudy Days. Days Rain Fell. 1878_ _. S. 13.962 4.33 45 28 19 21 1879 S.E. 14.530 8.84 39 34 19 31 1880 __ S.E. 19.653 16.66 49 24 19 25 1881 S. 14.966 3.01 60 22 10 12 1882 N. 17.774 6.12 57 19 16 19 1883 S. 15.825 7.22 54 26 12 21 1884 s.w. 18.168 12.52 46 23 23 25 Totals 114.878 58.70 350 176 118 154 Averages s. . 16.411 8.386 50.0 25.1 16.9 22.1 The statistics following will be found to contain the mean direction of the wind, total velocity, the rainfall, the number of clear, fair, and cloudy days, also the number of days rain fell for the Summer season, from 1878 to 1884: SUMMER OF Mean Sum- mer Direc- tion. Velocity for Summer. Rainfall for Summer. Clear Days. Fair Days. Cloudy Days. Days Rain Fell. 1878 S. 13.303 83 9 1879 s. 13.645 .13 81 11 3 1880 ._- s. 16.066 Sprinkle 85 7 2 1881 s. 16 531 86 5 1 3 1882 s. 15.449 .10 87 4 1 3 1883_ __. s. 15.609 89 3 1884 s. 16.518 1.45 76 9 6 7 Totals 107.121 2 18 587 48 8 18 Averages s. 15.303 0.311 83.9 6.9 1.1 2.6 14 The mean direction of the wind, the total velocity, the rainfall, and number of clear, fair, and cloudy days, also the number of days rain fell for the Fall season from 1878 to 1884, will be found recorded in the following table: FALL OF Mean Fall Direction. Velocity for Fall. Rainfall for Fall. Clear Days. Fair Days. Cloudy Days. Days Kaiu Fell. 1878 N 11.269 1.35 71 16 4 7 1879 s. 10.492 2.93 59 20 12 12 1880 N. 11.518 .05 71 14 6 2 1881 K. 12.993 2.7.", 73 15 3 11 1882 1883 N.W. S. 12.213 10.771 6.42 2.48 61 67 22 18 6 15 11 1884 N.&S.E. 10.659 2.61 75 13 3 7 Totals.. 79.915 18.57 477 118 42 65 Averages N. 11.416 2.653 68.1 16.9 6.0 9.3 The tabulated statement below shows the number of times the wind was observed blowing from the different points of the compass for the Winter seasons from 1877-8 to 1883-4 three observations daily: WINTER OF N. N.E. K S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W. Calm. 1877-78 66 7 15 69 54 19 3 11 26 1878-79 102 4 5 41 41 18 4 11 44 1879-80 41 13 19 77 30 17 6 47 23 1880-81 1881-82 1882-83 1883-84 50 86 54 63 5 9 8 11 7 8 16 15 107 75 66 75 57 35 33 37 15 18 14 8 2 7 9 19 12 (50 40 8 20 ,; lo Total 462 57 85 510 287 109 39 200 145 Averages.. 66.0 8.1 12.1 72.9 41.0 15.1 5.6 28.6 20.7 The following table shows the number of times the wind was observed blowing from the different points of the compass; also the number of calms observed during the Spring season, from 1878 to 1884, and is as follows from three daily observations: SPRING OF N. N.E. , S.E. S. S.AV. W. N.W. Calm. 1878 1879 30 34 2 3 3 48 29 89 82 54 75 11 13 23 16 16 23 1SSO _ 31 4 6 61 59 60 45 4 1881 50 4 4 42 71 71 10 14 10 1882 71 1 52 56 55 7 2J 13 1883 13 3 8 57 91 50 9 42 3 1884 29 2 7 51 70 75 11 27 3 Totals 258 18 30 340 518 440 67 188 72 Averages __ 36.9 2.6 4.3 48.6 72.6 62.9 9.6 26.9 10.3 15 The wind's direction for the Summer months from 1878 to 1884 will be found to be as follows : SUMMER OF N. N.E. ' S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W. Calm. 1878. __ 13 1 25 161 4, i 15 8 1879 24 1 5 111 79 8 37 11 1880 14 1 46 109 64 10 30 2 1881 21 1 58 115 55 6 16 4 1882 __. 3 1 2 56 135 41 9 23 5 1883 6 o o 54 127 50 9 29 o 1884 . _ 2 3 52 107 76 8 24 3 Totals 83 4 6 296 865 412 56 174 33 Averages. _ 11.9 0.6 0.9 42.3 123.6 58.9 8.0 24.9 4.7 The table following shows the direction of wind during the Fall months, from 1878 to 1884, both years included: FALL OF N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W. Calm. 1877 59 10 5 19 78 29 9 31 33 1878 75 5 3 12 64 36 15 37 26 1879 45 9 9 41 66 42 4 28 38 1880 75 7 7 40 55 37 12 30 10 1881 81 10 2 46 46 35 8 28 16 1882 19 8 5 60 54 27 20 66 14 1883 30 4 10 62 66 29 g 53 12 1884 49 7 3 49 47 48 12 38 20 Totals 433 60 44 329 476 283 86 311 169 Averages.. 54.1 7.5 5.5 41.1 59.5 35.4 10.8 38.9 21.1 The following data shows the number of times the wind was observed blowing from the different points of the compass, and also the number of calms occurring at the time of observations. The calculations are made from three daily observations, making 1,095 observations during each year, and 1,098 for 1881, and is as follows: YEAR OF N. N.E. E. S.E. S. S.W. W. N.W. Calm. 1878___ _ 194 11 12 151 364 155 36 84 88 1879 165 18 14 140 306 220 29 104 100 1880 162 24 33 239 259 172 34 147 30 1881 217 24 12 232 280 176 30 72 51 1882 167 14 21 251 276 145 43 140 37 1883 102 17 37 243 322 138 31 173 29 1884 149 18 22 220 267 213 38 1?2 36 Totals .__. . 1,156 126 151 1,476 2,074 1,219 241 852 371 Averages 165.1 18.0 21 4 210 9 296.3 174 1 34 4 121 7 53 16 The following table shows the total number of clear, fair, and cloudy days; also, the number of days in which rain fell for each year, from 1878 to 1884 both years included: YEAR OF Clear Days. Fair Days. Cloudy Days. Days on which. Bain Fell. 1878 225 81 59 67 1879 223 96 46 69 1880 244 62 60 58 1881 233 68 64 69 1882 251 71 43 62 1883. _ 260 77 26 46 1884 238 68 57 69 Totals . 1,674 523 355 440 ' Averages 239.1 74 7 50 7 62 9 17 f j RFCORDS OF RAINFALL INTERESTING DATA UPON THE SUBJECT FROM VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE STATE, COMPILED BY SERGEANT BARWICK, UNITED STATES SIGNAL CORPS. The rainfall that was called for through Sacramento papers by Ser- geant Barwick from all portions of the State some time ago has been in a measure quite successful, as he has received rainfall records from San Diego to Siskiyou Counties. The data received has been care- fully compiled and averages calculated by the Sergeant, and ably assisted in his work by Lopez Maulding of this city. The tabulated matter will begin with San Diego County and come northward. The first table is from Poway, San Diego County, and covers a period from November, 1878, to December, 1884. The data was furnished by Adams Chapin of Poway, volunteer observer of the United States Signal Service: RAINFALL AT POWAY, SAN DIEGO COUNTY. K$ t, 04 g ^ g CH CH j. 03 ^ y H ^ H 1 p I ff 1 1 3 cs < g CH fcH > ce j^ H H M H d d P 1 E 0, f 1 f 1 H 3 ! 1 I 1 t o 5 | 3 | 1 1 or Year _ 81 Cfi 1877 none none none none .53 .83 1877-78 10.49 1878 3.25 3.98 1.13 .69 .08 none none none none .36 .10 .20 9.79 1878-79 3.95 1879 .70 .30 .53 1.23 .47 .06 none none none .92 1.03 2.16 7.40 1879-80 12.81 1880 .98 3.14 .48 3.82 .28 none sprin. none none .13 .35 5.03 14.21 1880-81 11.70 1881 2.71 1.10 1.20 .86 .29 none sprin. .03 .09 .31 .52 .27 7.38 1881-82 6.73 1882 _ _ .87 1.86 1.47 .95 .37 .02 none none .21 1.31 .83 .15 8.04 1882-83 8.17 1883 .04 .54 2.48 1.79 .82 Totals 8.55 1(1.92 9.34 2.31 .08 sprin. .03 .30 3.03 3.36 8.64 46.82 53.85 Av'ges _ 1.425 1.820 1.215 1.557 .385 .013 sprin. .005 .050 .505 .560 1.440 7.803 8.975 SALINAS, MONTEREY COUNTY. The rainfall of Salinas, Monterey County, was furnished by Dr. E. K. Abbott, and extends from July, 1872, to December 31, 1884, show- ing the rainfall by months, years, and seasons; also the averages: 3 If CP g > g ji c, > 8P * b H | g 1 a ? | 2. * i !? o" 1 1 1 1 i g CD 3 3 I-h 3 "* 3 1 1 & 2 3 1 i i i CD 1 o | | 1 j , ! 1872 none none none none .01 .10 ,02 .10 .02 .20 6.80 4.25 lf.25 1872-73 1873-74 13.45 11.17 1873 3.40 2.40 .80 none none none 1874 3.42 none 2.15 -.95 none none none none none 1.83 1.42 none 9.77 1874-75 8.59 1875 4.50 .15 .69 none none none none none none none 5.17 2.18 12.69 1875-76 21.59 1876 6.16 3.55 4.52 none .01 none .10 none .05 1.04 .05 none 15.48 1876-77 4.74 1877 2.54 .16 .30 .10 .40 none none none none .12 1.00 2.39 7.01 1877-78 23.82 1878 7.05 8.77 2.57 1.92 none none none none .05 .60 .20 .35 21.51 1878-79 10.94 1879 2.42 2.81 1.85 1.69 .82 .15 none none none 1.05 1.08 2.28 14.15 1879-80 13.22 1880 1.65 1.16 1.64 3.90 .46 none none none none none .57 5.56 14.94 1880-81 14.07 1881 3.32 2.32 1.26 .66 none .38 none none .10 .28 .67 1.24 10.23 1881-82 12.93 1882 1.78 2.31 4.86 1.01 .49 .19 none none .38 1.43 .65 1.95 15.05 1882-83 11.79 1883. .91 .95 2 26 1.28 1.98 none none none .19 1.19 .25 .90 o. in 1883-84 20.25 1884 1.71 4.49 5.U9 i 3.05 .72 2.66 none .18 .11 1.79 .28 4.46 24.54 Totals. _ 38.86 29.07 27.99 14.56 4.88 3.38 .10 .18 .99 9.45 11.56 32.36 166.53 166.56 Av'ges _ 3.238 2.422 2.332 1.213 .407 .282 .008 .015 .076 .724 .889 j 2.489 13.878 13.880 20 SAN FRANCISCO. The rainfall from 1849 to 1875 in the following table was taken from the report of the State Agricultural Society for 1874, and was furnished to that society by Thomas Tennant. The rainfall from 1875 to date is compiled from the reports of the Chief Signal Officer: H 1 CH g 1 05 * K g 3 > g s 5 o> CH B 5T > z CT5 d 1 Octobei !?! 1 Decem a | Inches <3 3 1 1 t c ^ 8, [ ! H 05 ! 1849 none none none none none none none .33 1.03 3.14 none .21 8.66 .92 2.12 6.20 1.05 7.10 1850 1851 8.34 .72 1.77 .54 4.53 1.94 .46 1.23 none .67 none none 17.40 15.56 1849-50 1850-51 33.10 7.40 186-2 .58 .14 6.68 .26 .32 none none none none .80 5.31 13.20 27.29 1851-52 18.44 1853 3.92 1.42 4.86 5.37 .35 none none .04 .46 .12 2.28 2.32 21.14 1852-53 35.26 1854 3.88 8.04 3.51 3.12 .02 .08 none .01 .15 2.41 .34 .81 22.37 1853-54 23.87 1855 3.67 4.77 4.64 5.00 1.88 none none none none none .67 5.76 26.39 1854-55 23.68 1856 9.40 .50 1.60 2.94 .76 .03 .02 none .07 .45 2.79 3.75 22.31 1855-56 21.66 1857 2.45 8.59 1.62 none .02 12 none .05 none .93 3.01 4.14 20.93 1856-57 19.88 1858 4.36 1.83 5.55 1.55 .34 .05 .05 .16 none 2.74 .69 6.14 23.46 1857-58 21.81 1859 1.28 6.32 3.02 .27 1.55 none none .02 .03 .05 7.28 1.57 21.39 1858-59 22.22 1860 1.64 1.60 3.99 3.14 2.86 .09 .21 none none .19 .58 6.16 20.46 1859-60 22.27 1861 2.47 3.72 4.08 .51 1.00 .08 none none .02 none 4.10 9.54 25.52 1860-61 19.00 1862_ 24.36 7.53 2.20 .73 .74 .05 none none none .40 .15 2.35 38.51 1861-62 49.27 1863 3.63 3.19 2.06 1.04 .26 none none none .03 none 2.55 1,80 14.56 1862-63 13.08 1864 1.83 none 1.52 1.57 .78 none none .21 .01 .13 6.68 8.91 21.64 1863-64 10.08 1865 5.14 1.34 .74 .94 .63 none none none .24 .26 4.19 .58 14.06 1864-65 24.73 1866 10.88 2.12 3.04 .12 1.40 .04 none none | .11 none 3.35 15.16 36.28 1865-66 22.93 1867 J 5.16 7.20 1.58 2.36 none none none none .04 .20 3.41 10.69 ! 30.64 1866-67 34.92 1868 9.50 6.13 6.30 2.31 .03 .23 none none none .15 1 1.18 4.34 1 30.17 1867-68 38.84 1869 6.35 3.90 3.14 2.19 .08 .02 none none .12 1.29 1.19 4.31 22.59 1868-69 21.35 1870 3.89 4.78 2.00 1.53 .20 none none none .03 none .43 3.38 16.24 1869-70 19.31 1871 3.07 3.76 1.29 1.93 .21 none none none .03 .11 3.72 16.74 30.86 1870-71 14.10 1872 4.22 6.97 1.64 1.10 .16 .02 none none .14 .21 2.62 7.25 24.33 1871-72 34.71 1873 2.17 4.24 .78 .52 .01 .08 .03 .15 none .68 1.31 10.12 20.09 1872-73 18.02 1874 4.85 1.83 3.55 1.04 .34 .08 none none .83 2.73 5.92 .28 21.45 1873-74 23.98 1875 6.97 .20 1.08 .02 .11 1.01 none none none .24 7.27 4.15 21.05 1874-75 19.15 1876_ 7.55 4.92 5.49 1.29 .24 .04 .01 .01 .38 3.36 .25 none 23.54 1875-76 31.21 1877 4.32 1.18 1.08 .26 .18 .01 .02 none none 65 1.57 2.66 11.93 1876-77 11.04 1878 11.97 12.52 4.56 1.06 .16 .01 .01 none .55 1.27 .57 .58 33.26 1877-78 35.17 1879 3.52 4.90 8.75 1.89 2.35 .05 .01 .02 sprin .78 4.03 4.46 30.76 1878-79 24.46 1880 2.23 \ 1.87 2.08 10.06 1.12 none none none none .05 .33 12.33 30.07 1879-80 26.63 1881 8.69 4.64 .90 2.00 .22 .69 none none .25 I .54 1.94 3.85 23.72 1880-81 29.86 1882 1.68 2.96 3.45 1.22 .21 .04 none none .26 2.66 4.18 2.01 18.67 1881-82 16.14 1883 1.92 1.04 3.01 1.51 3.52 .01 none none .42 1.48 1.60 92 15.43 1882-83 20.12 1884 3.94 6.65 8.24 6.33 .23 2.57 sprin .04 .33 2.55 .26 7.68 38.82 1883-84 32.42 Totals __ 180.45 133.11 114.50 66.87 23.04 5.40 .36 1 .71 5.86 30.78 97.45 Il92.26 832.89 840.11 Av'ges _ 5.156 3.803 3.271 1.911 .658 154 .010 -020 .162 .855 2.709 5.340 23 797 1 24.003 21 OAKLAND, ALAMEDA COUNTY. The rainfall record below was taken by Mr. James Hutchison, of the Bay Nursery, Oakland, and furnished to Sergeant Barwick by Dr. J. B. Trembley, of Oakland. It shows the rainfall by months, by years, and by seasons, along with the monthly totals and averages for eleven years, extending from October, 1873, to December, 1884: 1 ^ a la ^ 2 3* " f c i i i i if.'] i j * nc >-t | 1 ? f 1 1873 .60 2.34 .30 4.74 .60 9.18 7.83 .25 10.18 .31 4.10 none | 1874 1875 1876 5.60 6.15 5.28 1.80 .30 4.87 5.25 1.65 4.55 1.25 none .93 .75 .10 .45 none 1.64 .24 none none .10 none none none none none .15 26.48 22.07 21.56 1873-74 1874-75 1875-76 26.03 21.67 28.55 1877. 4.19 1.42 .96 .22 .33 none .18 none none .45 1.62 1.75 11.12 1876-77 12.36 1878 10.82 11.63 4.30 1.18 .40 none none none .57 1.85 .65 .31 31.71 1877-78 32.33 1879 3.84 5.65 7.96 1.17 1.39 .16 none none none .70 2.98 5.06 28.91 1878-79 23.55 1880 1.71 2.19 1.70 8.46 1.04 none none none none .05 .35 12.57 28.07 1879-80 23.84 1881 10.48 3.95 .88 1.40 ..50 1.16 none none .40 .82 1.49 5.09 26.17 1880-81 31.34 1882 2.42 2.05 4.20 1.51 .15 none none none .42 2.65 4.33 1.14 18.87 1881-82 18.13 1883 1.95 .70 3.33 2.20 3.50 none none ! none 1.00 1.03 .90 1.15 15.76 1882-83 20.22 1884 3.81 5.25 8.59 5.79 .55 3.03 none .25 .35 2.80 .05 7.73 38.20 1883-84 31.10 Totals __ 56.25 39.81 43.37 24.11 9.16 6.23 .28 .25 2.89 1 18.33 30.23 49.39 268.92 269.12 Av'ges _ 5.114 3.619 i ?,.!I43 2.192 .833 .566 .025 .023 .263 1 1.666 2.748 4.490 24.447 24.465 1 | i 22 SACRAMENTO, SACRAMENTO COUNTY. The following important table of rainfall at Sacramento, from Sep- tember, 1849, to December 31, 1884, has been in the main published heretofore, but is now extended to include December 31, 1884, thus covering a period of thirty-five years and four months. It was col- lated from the records of Dr. T. M. Logan, Dr. F. W. Hatch, and those of the United States Signal Service office: i g g o* 3 f 1 f a f 1 3 1 o g 1 1 | p 3 11 1 1 o 2, j 1 i i | 8 ! 1849 ' ! .25 1.50 2.25 12.50 1849-50 36.00 1850 ! 4.50 .50 10.00 4.25 .25 none none none none none sprin sprin 19.50 1850-51 4.71 1851 .65 .35 1.88 1.14 .69 none none n jne 1.00 .18 2.14 7.07 15.10 1851-52 17.98 185? .58 .12 6.40 .19 .30 none none n me sprin none 6.00 13.41 27.00 1852-53 36.36 1853 3.00 2.00 7.00 3.50 1.45 sprin sprin none sprin ! sprin 1.50 1.54 19.99 1853-54 20.06 1854 3.25 8.50 3.25 1.50 .21 .31 none sp rin sprin 1.01 .65 1.15 19.83 1854-55 18.62 1855 ___ 2.67 3.46 4.20 4.32 1.15 .01 none n me sprin none .75 2.00 18.56 1855-56 13.76 1856 4.92 .69 1.40 2.13 1.84 .03 none none sprin .20 .65 2.40 14.26 1856-57 10.46 1857 1 1.38 4.80 .68 sprin sprin .35 none sp rin none .66 2.41 2.63 12.91 1857-58 15.00 1858 | 2.44 2.46 2.88 1.21 .20 .10 .01 sprin spriu 3.01 .15 4.34 16.80 1858-59 16.03 1859 I .96 3.91 1.64 .98 i 1.04 none none n me .02 none 6.48 1.83 16.86 1859-60 22.09 1860 j 2.31 .93 5.11 2.87 2.49 .02 .63 n me .06 .91 .18 4.28 19.19 1860-61 16.10 1861 2.67 2.92 3.32 .48 .59 .14 .55 none none sprin 2.17 8.64 21.38 1861-62 35.56 1862 ! 15.04 4.26 2.80 .82 1.81 .01 none .01 none .36 sprin 2.33 27.44 1862-63 11.58 1863 1.73 2.75 2.36 1.69 .36 none none none sprin none 1.49 1.82 12.20 1863-64 7.87 1864 1.08 .19 1.30 1.08 .74 .09 none .08 sprin .12 6.72 7.87 19.27 1864-65 22.51 1865 4.78 .71 .48 1.37 .46 none sprin none .08 .48 2.43 .36 11.15 1865-66 17.93 1866 7.70 2.01 2.02 .48 2.25 .10 .02 n me none sprin 2.43 9.51 26.52 1866-67 25.30 1867 3.44 7.10 1.01 1.80 .01 none none n me .01 noue 3.81 12.85 30.03 1867-68 32.79 1868 6.04 3.15 4.35 2.31 .27 sprin none none none none .77 2.61 19.50 1 1868-69 16.64 1869 4.79 i 3.63 2.94 1.24 .65 .01 none n me sprin 2.12 .85 1.96 18.19 1869-70 13.57 1870. ' 1.37 3.24 1.64 2.12 1 .27 spriu sprin sprin none .02 .58 .97 10.21 1870-71 8.47 1871 | 2.08 1.92 .69 1.45 1 .76 spriu none n me sprin .21 1.22 1 10.59 18.92 1871-72 23.65 1872. 4.04 4.74 1.94 .61 .28 .02 none IK me sprin .22 1.93 1 5.39 19.17 1872-73 14.21 1873 ! 1.23 4.30 .55 .51 none sprin .02 [ sprin none .31 1.21 10.01 18.20 1873-74! 22.90 1*74____' 5.20 1.8(5 3.05 .89 .37 sprin sprin noue .05 j 2.26 3.80 .44 17.-J-2 1874-75 S 17.7l> 1875 8.70 .55 .80 sprin sprin 1.10 none n jne none .44 6.20 5.52 23.31 ; 1875-76 26.5: 1 . 1876 __ 4.99 3.75 4.15 1.10 .15 none .21 .02 sprin ' 3.45 .30 ! none 18.12 i 1876-77 8.9(V 1877 2.77 1.04 .56 .19 .64 .01 j sprin sp rin none .73 1.07 1.43 8.44 1877-78 ' 24.86 1878 9.26 8.04 3.09 1.07 .17 none none IK me .29 .55 .51 .47 23.45 1878-79 17.85 1879 3.18 3.88 4.88 2.66 1.30 .13 spriu spriu none .88 2.05 3.41 22.37 1879-80 26.47 1880 1.64 1.83 1.70 14.20 .76 none sprin n me none none .05 11.81 31.99 1880-81 26.57 1881 6.14 5.06 1.37 1.64 sprin .50 sprin n me .30 .55 1.88 3.27 20.71 1881-82 16.51 1882 1.89 2.40 3.78 1.99 .35 .10 sprin n me .57 2.63 3.22 1.13 18.06 1882-83 18.11 1883 2.23 1.11 3.70 .67 2.85 none none none .90 .97 .61 .44 13.48 1883-84 24.78 1884 3.43 4.46 8.14 4.32 .06 1.45 none sprin .60 2.01 none 10.45 34.92 1884-85 Totals 132.08 102.68 105.06 66.78 25.72 4.48 1.14 .11 4.13 25.78 68.46 166.40 685.95 688.49 Av'ges, j .003 35 years 3.774 2.934 3.002 1.908 .735 .128 .032 * .115 * .716 *1.902 *4.622 19.599 19.671 * Mean for thirty-six years. All others for thirty-five years. 23 RAINFALL AT FOLSOM, SACRAMENTO COUNTY. The rainfall data tabulated below is from Folsom, Sacramento County, and was furnished Sergeant Barwick by J. H. Sturgis, volun- teer observer of the United States Signal Service at that point. The rainfall is from September, 1871, to December, 1884, showing the totals, averages, yearly and seasonal averages for the past thirteen years: H c, a? g > g t-i ^ > 02 >z! y H m 4 I e 1 2. 3 1 c I S" 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 S . f ! | g 1 r o" i B O c 1 p j i H ! 1871 i sprin .55 1.95 13.12 1871-72 28.82 1872 5.50 4.72 1.60 .63 .75 sprin none sprin sprin .25 2.80 6.53 22.78 1872-73 15.70 1873 1.64 4.05 .34 .05 .03 none .01 spriu sprin sprin 1.39 10.51 18.02 1873-74 24.45 1874 5.26 2.63 1.82 2.03 .81 sprin sprin none sprin 1.66 519 .13 19.53 1874-75 15.70 1875 6.14 .04 1.24 sprin .07 1.23 none none none .26 7.12 4.49 20.59 1875-76 30.53 1876 5.89 4.06 6.62 1.56 .24 sprin .26 .03 none 3.76 .25 none 22.38 1876-77 9.90 1877 3.38 .68 .81 sprin 1.02 sprin sprin sprin none .75 .54 1.34 8.52 1877-78 25.00 1878 8.41 8.37 4.23 1.10 .26 none none sprin .12 .43 .62 .56 24.10 1878-79 21.91 1879 1880. 4.87 1.51 4.94 2.13 5.43 1.40 3.38 11.39 1.44 2.06 .12 none none sprin sprin none none none 1.21 sprin 2.20 .10 3.19 9.85 26.78 28.44 1879-80 1880-81 25.09 25.91 1881 6.70 6.07 1.38 1.13 sprin .68 none none .40 1.21 1.57 3.45 22.59 1881-82 18.28 1882 2.38 3.01 3.82 2.51 .27 .06 sprin none .68 2.81 3.95 .74 20.23 1882-83 22.32 1883 2.11 .80 5.46 1.10 4.57 none none none 1.82 1.41 .81 .92 19.00 1883-84 31.02 1884 3.88 5.92 8.14 5.32 1.16 1.64 none sprin .64 2.02 none 9.13 37.85 Totals 57.67 47.42 42.29 30.20 12.68 3.73 .27 .03 3.66 16.32 28.49 63.96 290.81 294.63 Av'ges _ 4.436 3.648 3.253 2.323 .975 .287 .021 .002 .261 1.166 2.035 4.569 20.772 22.664 24 SHINGLE SPRINGS, EL DORADO COUNTY. The following rainfall tables were compiled by Sergeant Barwick from data furnished him by Mrs. J. Carney, of Carson City, Nevada. The observations of rainfall were taken by her father, Doctor J. R. Edwards, an old pioneer citizen of Sacramento County; 1849 and 1850 were taken at Mormon Island, Sacramento County; the remain- ing years the rainfall was taken about two miles from Shingle Springs, El Dorado County, and cover a period of eighteen years for that point; and two years at Mormon Island. This gives El Dorado County a good rainfall record. This table, from 1850 to 1868, and Samuel Hale's, of Placerville, from 1874 to 1884, makes nearly .twenty-eight years of rainfall records for that county: 1 3 1 | I g g CH c c a 5 02 CD I g ! I H | I | g W ^ 3 ff i 1 gg q \ ! * of ^ i 3 o 8, * I j ! ! j 1 1 1849 .08 .10 .30 5.65 .65 2.45 10.40 2.70 7.80 1849-50 1850-51 1851-52 39.25 17.26 32.50 1850 1851 13.70 4.80 2.15 .40 6.80 2.10 .45 4.80 .02 .40 none none none none sprin sprin 1.23 .40 27.80 23.45 1852 3.20 .50 9.60 7.25 1.00 none none | nc me none .50 7.20 11.40 40.65 1852-53 47.r,7 1853 13.70 2.40 8.20 3.00 1.10 .05 none sprin 1.20 .75 6.40 4.10 40.90 1853-54 30.15 1854 4.40 3.40 4.30 5.40 .20 .30 none m me none 3.72 2.70 3.50 27.92 1854-55 19.50 1855 3.20 1.10 2.50 2.10 .68 none none nc me .70 none 2.40 5.70 18.34 1855-50 18.60 1856 4.10 .80 3.40 1.20 .20 .10 none none none none 2.15 7.35 19.30 1856-57 20.11 1857 6.50 7.05 1.94 none .42 .35 .35 nc me ifone .42 4.94 1.99 23.96 1857-58 19.91 1858. 2.37 2.69 4.00 1.70 .20 .60 none none none 3.25 .50 6.20 21.51 1858-59 31.41 1859 1.22 12.00 5.81 1.82 1.51 none none nc me none .15 11.16 2.40 36.07 1859-60 28.09 1860 2.20 1.15 4.71 3.40 2.10 .02 .80 none none 1.20 .50 7.43 23.51 1800-61 20.25 1861 3.78 4.60 8.34 .20 .15 .05 none nc me none none 6.90 11.22 35.44 1861-62 77.80 1862 34.13 6.75 6.90 3.34 4.10 1.90 2.56 none none .78 .37 2.84 63.67 1862-63 19.27 1863 1.45 4.96 4.01 2.76 2.10 none none nc me none none 2.05 6.30 23.63 1863-64 24.27 1864 7.29 3.21 .63 3.94 .85 none none nc >n none .08 9.94 9.13 35.07 1864-65 34.44 1865 5.13 5.63 1.13 2.49 .89 none none none none .45 6.84 2.57 25.13 1865-60 30.86 1866 11.08 3.46 6.21 1.31 4.88 .18 none nc me none none 4.73 18.77 50.62 1866-07 50.30 1867 9.17 7.51 4.09 6.01 .02 none none sprin .82 2.24 7.17 23.76 60.81 1867-68 1868 12.12 3.70 14.39 Totals __ j 143.54 73.46 \ 99.06 51.17 20.82 3.55 3.71 sprin ! 4.35 14.02 84.70 ,145.56 597.78 1 '579.54 Av'ges _ 7.555 3.866 5.214 2.843 1.166 .197 .206 sprin .242 .738 4.458 7.661 33.210 ';}? 195 25 PLACERVILLE, EL DORADO COUNTY. The rainfall record at Placerville, El Dorado County, was furnished Sergeant Barwick by Samuel Hale, Superintendent of the El Dorado Water and Deep Gravel Mining Company, and covers a period of six years, from 1879 to 1884. Records were also kept from February, 1874, to February, 1877. The total for each year was, for eleven months in 1874, 33.23 inches; 1875,44.84 inches; 1876,39.21 inches; January and February, 1877, gave 11.05 inches: 1 9 a February _ ! 5. (? IH c a z f 1 4 fl> \ g 1 o Total for Season, F v a * 3 to SH c_ f c" f Novembei | i 1 a Total for j I j | i y 1 | | 1 ! i g '2 1 4 30 18 72 f3 4.0S 13.05 3.05 3.11 .12 none .03 none none .61 .55 16.60 4~1.20 1872-73 46.46 f4 16.66 8.03 13.87 i 5.sd 1.32 .20 none none none 3.86 14.60 1.24 65.58 1873-74 63.64 15... 17.87 .04 5.07 | .31 2.03 1 2.06 none none none 1.90 24.12 10.85 64.25 1874-75 47.08 re__ 13.09 9.97 U.r>4 : 4.78 1.22 none .77 none none 11.47 .80 none 56.64 1875-76 81.24 f7__ _ 12.44 2.14 7.78 1.74 3.87 .24 none none none 1.03 4.30 1.97 35.51 1876-77 40.48 f8 16.21 22.78 10.92 2.99 .99 .12 none none .66 2.56 2.66 .48 60.37 1877-78 61.31 r___ 11.24 12.41 17.57 9.66 3.38 .:>4 none none none 3.85 6.25 11.73 76.43 1878-79 60.96 M)J__ 5.47 6.00 5.50 25.63 5.97 none none none none .18 .37 22.67 71.79 1879-80 70.40 a__. 20.83 12.85 3.84 2.40 .40 2.28 none none 2.02 4.23 3.30 10.32 62.47 1880-81 65.82 i2.__ 8.59 5.88 10.44 7.11 2.06 .18 none none .16 7.75 7.00 3.31 52.48 1881-82 54.13 __ 4.70 3.08 8.73 3.87 7.34 none none none 1.60 4.10 1.94 3.50 38.86 1882-83 45.94 J4 7.53 13.80 19.94 15.07 1.52 3.65 none .01 .80 3.54 .03 33.73 99.62 1883-84 72.66 tals 138.71 110.03 121.25 82.46 30.23 9.07 .80 01 1 524 45.08 70 -?2 135 12 725.20 710:12 'ges 11.559 9.169 10.104 6.872 2.519 .756 .067 .0008 .437 3.757 5.402 10.394 60.433 59.177 3t 26 GRASS VALLEY, NEVADA COUNTY. The rainfall that goes to make up the following table for Nevada County was taken at Grass Valley by Mr. Loutzenheiser, and for- warded to Sergeant Barwick by the Grass Valley Daily Tidings. It covers a period of eleven years, from 1873 to 1884: H 2 r ! i P > $ s s g 02 * o g 02 H E f 3 9, ^ 5 <<5 or? H CD i P Hi 3 i $ a 02 O j2j d H co ^ g a a 1 f | i a 5 - 2 *s s- 3 2 11 3" f ' * j & b o" p ^ ! ; ^ H ** 1 *! I J ^ a 1 . f i I i I f p 1879 2 38 2 25 1879-80 13.25 1880 .62 .75 .75 5.88 .62 none none none none none none 5.38 14.00 1880-81 12.20 1881_ _ 3.69 1.38 .75 1.00 none none none none .31 1.12 .38 2.00 10.63 1881-82 12.26 1882 1.88 2.31 2.57 1.19 .50 none none none .25 .88 2.62 .25 12.45 1882-83 12.44 1883 .75 .19 3.06 .88 3.56 none none none .62 .81 none .19 10.06 1883-84 19.80 18S4 3 81 2 12 6 50 3 75 25 1 75 57 1 00 4 94 24 69 Totals __ 10.75 6.75 13.63 12.70 4.93 1.75 none none 1.75 3.81 5.38 15.01 71.83 69.95 Av'ges ... 2.150 1.350 2.722 2.540 .986 .350 none none .350 .762 .897 2.502 14.366 1IMWO 27 MARYSVILLE, YUBA COUNTY. The rainfall from Marysville only covers a period of two years, and was furnished the Signal Service Observer at Sacramento by J. S. Dallam, Special River Observer for the United States Signal Service at that point: H I ^ B > g CH GH > 02 3 y H cc H 55 i 5 3 * o vj "1 i | % Sf | 1 * Of 1 1 i J | c 1 p o 5* i | i H 1 1882 99 2 42 i'2 84 1 31 1882-83 90 12 1883. 1.64 .61 3.72 .98 5.61 none none none .53 1.29 .94 .54 15.86 1883-84 23.47 1884 3.93 384 6 04 4 14 .16 '2 0(5 none none 48 232 03 7 64 30j64 Totalsi 5.57 4.45 ! 9.72 ! 5.12 i 5.77 i 2.06 ; none i none : 2.00 i 6.03 I. 3.81 i 1 1 1 i 1 COLUSA, COLUSA COUNTY. The rainfall, etc., from Colusa, Colusa County, was furnished by J. D. McNary, Special River Observer at that point. The table below gives the rainfall by seasons from 1872-73 to 1883-84, and by months only from 1881 to 1884: $ February, January __ - 1 o f crq 5o September October _ _ November 1 Total for Year __ For Season of ___ Total for Season. 1872 1873 1872-73 33 46 1874 ___ 1873-74 11 28 1875 __ 1874-75 19 02 1876__ _ __ 1875-76 19 79 1877_ 1876-77 9 20 1878 _ 1877-78 33.34 1879 1878-79 13.98 1880 : 1879-80 19 21 1881 1882 1883 1884 3.70 , 2.27 1.51 2.56 1.07 .37 4.82 ; -2.30 .60 2.50 2.36 5.70 1.42 1.27 .79 2.97 .34 .04 2.23 .12 none .65 none 2.88 none none none none none none none none 1.19 .23 .68 .59 none 1.19 .68 1.06 .43 1.73 .11 none 2.51 .69 .10 5.30 12.46 12.37 9.39 25.74 1880-81 1881-82 1882-83 1883-84 16.96 22.62 11.66 29.75 Totals 11.10 7.50 11.16 6.45 3.73 3.53 none 2 69 2 98 2 27 8 60 59 96 239 47 Av'ges 2.775 1.875 2.790 1.613 .933 .883 none none 672 732 568 215 14 990 19 956 28 PRINCETON, COLUSA COUNTY. The record of rainfall at Princeton, Colusa County, was furnished by David Bentley, volunteer observer of the Signal Service, United States Army, and covers a period of ten years, from 1875 to 1884, inclusive, as follows: H 1* tt g J > g ft CH I 1.07 : 2.82 none none none .58 1 .64 .10 .14 8.58 18S3-.S4 17.78 1884 4.03 2 35 5.06 2.71 .05 2.12 none \ none 1.13 1.10 none 6.03 24.58 Totals 1.20 \ 1-90 31.88 93 4-5 20.09 14.61 6.15 5.29 2.84 10.95 9.69 22.42 149.79 134.96 Av'ges _ .120 3.188 ' 2.345 2.009 1.461 .615 .529 .120 .284 1.095 .969 2.242 14.979 14.996 RED BLUFF, TEHAMA COUNTY. This table is made up from the Signal Service records, and shows the total rainfall for each calendar year from 1878 to December 31, 1884, and the rainfall by seasons from 1877-78 to 1883-84; also, the rainfall for each month, and the totals for each month, along with the averages from the opening of the Signal Office on July 1, 1877, to date: Kj t, *j g > S ^ e_, > ? ^ M g 0! \ o 1 1 3. * ! F 5 1 ! i 1 1 1 q q i * i" 1 | o 1 j [ i *< 187 187 187 1 .05 none .04 .03 none .28 none .42 sprin 1.35 1.56 .48 3.13 1.66 6.05 3.98 .69 9.95 *8.54 48.96 33.64 8 9 20.71 3.18 16.66 3.67 4.16 5.39 2.21 2.12 .89 2.18 none .30 1877-78 1878-79 53.09 21.49 1880 2.01 1,66 1.70 7.05 1.04 none none none none .08 .14 12.85 26.53 1879-80 29.94 188 1 _. 9.40 2.79 .51 1.83 .79 .51 spnu none 1.07 1.61 .73 5.69 24.93 1880-81 28.90 1882 2.81 3.94 2.67 2.12 .33 .15 none none .49 2.80 5.07 1.44 21.82 1881-82 21.12 1883 1884 .87 3.55 .39 2.21 2.60 7.81 1.96 4.31 2.96 .18 none .97 none none none none 1.04 .36 2.68 .90 .74 .04 .52 7.75 13.76 28.08 1882-83 1883-84 18.58 24.01 Totals 42 53 31 32 24 84 21 60 8 37 1 93 09 31 3 38 11 46 17 56 42 87 206 26 197.13 Av'ges _ 6.076 4.474 3.549 3.086 1.196 .276 .011 .044 .422 1.433 2.195 5.365 25.282 28.161 * Total for six months. 29 REED'S RAILROAD CAMP, UPPER SACRAMENTO RIVER. The following interesting rain data from Reed's Camp, on the Upper Sacramento River, shows that heavy annual rainfalls are a very usual occurrence at that point, according to the observations made by L. Aultenreith, and by him furnished to Sergeant Barwick. The table extends from January, 1880, to December, 1884, and shows the averages by months, years, and seasons. From 1882 to 1884, the record was kept at Dog Creek, near Reed's Camp: CH 4 r i j. ,. > 02 ^ M H 02 HI I anuary__. I P *B a | d c 1 *c! 5 3 1 c ecember . f B I ! | ! 1880 x r,n 3 34 8 32 19 "'(i '.V 07 71 59 1881 : I'.l .76 14.14 8.04 5.99 i .80 2.66 none none 2.17 7.16 5.65 8.00 86.37 1880-81 95.46 1882 5.07 15.37 13.01 4.11 5.28 none .08 none .10 9.20 8.14 394 64.30 1881-82 65.90 1883 _ 1.00 none 14.46 ,s 4'.l 9.94 none none none none (J 18 1.10 424 45.41 1882-83 55.27 1884____ 15.57 4.55 13.44 16.55 2.73 ! 7.12 25 none 1.03 7.99 2.32 19.70 91.25 1883-84 71.73 Totals 62.00 37.40 57.27 54.40 IS. 7.-) 9.78 ! .33 none ! 3.30 30.5I3 17.21 67.95 358.92 288.36 Av'ges 12.40(1 7.480 11.454 10.880 3.750 1.956 .068 none .660 6.106 3.442 13.590 71.784 72.090 YREKA, SISKIYOU COUNTY. The rainfall table for Yreka extends from April, 1872, to Decem- ber, 1884, and was furnished Sergeant Barwick by Mr. L. Aultenreith, of Yreka. The record is from the rain gauge of the C. P. R. R. Co. The record shows the monthly annual and seasonal rainfalls, the averages for each month during a period of twelve and thirteen years; also, the average for twelve seasons: t 1 1 | I P 3 H c c ftO 1 f $ 1 S" 1 H "* e 2 2 gf 5 1 S- $ B 1 3 3 1 t B 5 \ 1 1 * O 1 ! | f B 1872 .24 .44 none .14 none .25 1.65 1.43 3.72 1873 jf.28 1.77 .40 .90 .60 none none none .44 .55 1.17 2.20 9.31 1872-73 11.90 1874 3.78 1.62 1.49 .74 .34 .44 none none none 1.29 2.16 none 11.86 1873-74 12.77 1875. 4.35 .19 1.23 .17 .51 .30 .07 none none 3.34 5.29 6.07 21.52 1874-75 10.27 1876 2.00 1.93 2.07 .42 .65 .20 .32 .19 .90 3.05 .43 .2(> 12.42 1*75-76 22 48 1877 1.20 3.24 1.48 .74 1.56 .65 .18 none none .20 3.64 .95 13.84 1876-77 13.69 1878 612 3.91 2.80 .37 .56 none .35 .40 .45 .25 1.15 .45 16.81 1877-78 19.30 1879 1.53 1.41 3.96 1.56 1.42 .39 .22 15 none .77 2.32 7.23 20.96 1878-79 12.94 1880 2.43 .61 1.20 2.23 .41 none .15 none none .13 .10 2.42 9.68 1879-80 17.35 1881 11.78 2.58 .19 .48 none 1.65 .59 .26 .30 3.24 .68 1.60 23.35 1880-81 20.18 1882 1.81 1.96 .42 1.20 1.02 none none none .90 1.88 1.89 2.09 13.17 1881-82 12.23 1883 1.38 .47 .53 1.26 1.76 none .33 .25 .33 1.35 .66 2.95 11.27 1882-83 12.74 1884 210 1.20 2.44 1.41 1.40 1.78 1.33 .51 .33 none .79 6.19 29.48 1883-84 17.46 Totals __ 39.76 20.89 18.21 11.72 10.67 5.41 3.68 1.76 3.90 17.60 21.71 36.13 183.67 183.31 Av'ges 3.313 1.741 1.518 .901 .821 .416 .283 .135 .300 1.354 1.670 2.779 15.306 15.276 SCOTT VALLEY, SISKIYOU COUNTY. The rainfall for Scott Valley, Siskiyou County, was tabulated from data furnished by Mr. C. H. Pyle, Yreka; the observations having been taken by Mr. Isaac Letcomb, of Scott Valley. This table is val- 30 uable for the length of time it extends back. The observations began in August, 1859, and run to December, 1884, without a break or any missing data thereirom H S ? g 9 % EL X fo a o % ' r-K 1 1 I? 5 2. I 1- r '-*$ *"* 1 ! ! 1 B B " P i 1 1 1 *i 1 2 c c ; e 5 1859 .50 .24 none .87 .49 none 1.00 2.22 .51 4.33 2.00 11.56 .75 5.74 10.63 1859-60 1860-61 1861-62 20.28 20.65 40.96 1860 1861 2.59 1.12 1.25 2.50 4.12 2.50 .75 3.00 2.00 .54 ,50 .30 1.62 none 23.52 32.66 1862 9.29 3.75 1.32 2.00 1.00 .80 .10 none .02 .15 .12 1.90 20.45 1862-63 15.72 1863 4.75 1.75 2.45 2.00 .40 1.93 .25 .09 .40 .25 1.85 6.17 22.29 i 1863-64 1560 1864 2.07 .43 .82 2.70 .51 .31 none .63 .04 .31 6.00 12.75 26.57 1864-65 26.77 1865 1.87 2.40 1.30 .32 .05 .75 .35 .02 1.15 1.33 9.79 1.21 20.54 1865-06 35.65 1866 6.59 3.50 9.20 .02 1.72 .62 .50 .47 none .08 2.51 11.75 36.96 1866-67 28.38 1867 9.12 2.02 .64 1.34 .44 .01 none .26 .40 .88 1.75 9.68 26.54 1867-68 23.61 1868 3.06 1.50 3.70 1.14 .18 1.06 none none .06 .50 .77 i 2.80 14.77 1868-69 18.29 1869 5.76 1.13 1.32 3.61 1.52 .69 .13 none 1.00 .01 3.04 3.56 21.77 1869-70 19.87 1870 5.00 2.91 1.73 1.37 1.12 .13 none none .01 .02 1.00 ' 3.50 16.79 ! 1870-71 13.91 1871 1.86 2.47 1.62 2.27 .55 .26 .35 none .37 .05 1.62 7.68 19.10 1871-72 22.87 1872 4.18 6.94 1.40 .34 .25 .03 .01 .01 .41 .16 2.67 3.38 19.78 1872-73 13.84 1873 1.33 3.00 1.05 1.50 .27 .03 .03 .05 .37 .94 1.71 4.49 14.77 1873-74 21.79 1874_ 6.38 1.80 3.65 1.55 .71 .13 .01 .09 none 1.55 4.33 .43 20.63 1874-75 13.09 1875 3.13 .17 1.79 .35 .75 .12 .38 .05 none 4.45 7.31 7.33 25.83 1875-76 31.09 1876 _ 2.26 333 3.94 .71 119 .18 .34 1.00 1.02 3.75 .54 .01 18.27 1876-77 18.90 1877 1.71 423 3.10 1.23 1.48 .71 .12 .02 .01 .45 .67 1.62 15.35 1877-78 23.36 1878___. 9.72 6.53 3.74 SKI .20 .12 .01 .06 .36 2.81 2.16 1.141 27.12 1878-79 26.42 1879_ 3.25 3.54 8.39 2.66 1.40 .27 .38 .47 .11 .81 4.64 4.58 30.50 1879-80 33.30 1880 10.62 2.32 2.65 5.39 1.32 .02 .37 .07 none .18 .32 6.76 30.02 1880-81 31.50 1881 13.95 6.53 .79 1.19 .17 1.04 ..54 .04 .76 3.53 2.40 4.60 35*54 1881-82 3003 1882 4.48 5.69 2.22 2.45 1.29 .08 2.49 none 1.44 2.86 2.72 3.75 2947 1882-83 22.27 1883 2.58 1.51 1.11 3.25 2.65 none .40 .63 .66 2.41 1.11 4.75 21.06 1883-84 27.63 1884 4.28 3.14 3.45 306 1.65 .87 j 1.62 .01 .60 1.04 .16 8.18 28.06 Totals __ 1 1 120.95 74.34 68.00 44.47 23.36 10.96 I 10.00 4.71 10.55 32.25 77.08 J129.14 598.36 695.84 Av'ges J 4.838 2.974 2.720 1.77!) .934 .438 .400 .181 .406 1.240 2.965 4.967 [23.914 23.834 The following table shows the rainfall by seasons that is, the months that are considered the rainy ones beginning with Septem- ber of one year and ending with August the next year, and makes a brief summary of the rainfall at twenty-two .different points in this State, extending from San Diego to Siskiyou, and from San Fran- cisco to Georgetown. The table begins with the Scott Valley Station, Siskiyou County, the records extending from the season of 1859-60 to that of 1883-4; Yreka, Siskiyou County, from 1872-3 to 1883-4; Weaverville, Trinity County, from 1871-2 to 1883-4; Reed's Camp and Dog Creek, on the upper Sacramento River, from 1880-81 to 1883-4; Red Bluff, Tehama County, from 1877-8 to 1883-4; Prince- ton, Colusa County, from 1875-6 to 1883-4; Colusa, Colusa County, from 1872-3 to 1883-4; West Butte, Sutter County, from 1879-80 to 1883-4; Marysville, Yuba County, from 1882-3 to 1883-4; Grass Val- ley, Nevada County, from 1872-3 to 1883-4; Georgetown, El Dorado County, from 1872 L 3 to 1883-4; Placerville, El Dorado County, for 1874-5, 1875-6, and from 1879-80 to 1883-4; Shingle Springs, El Do- rado County, from 1849-50 to 1866-7 ; Folsom City, Sacramento County, from 1871-2 to 1883-4; Sacramento, Sacramento County, from 1849-50 to 1883-4; Oakland, Alameda County, from 1873-4 to 1883-4; San Francisco, San Francisco County, from 1849-50 to 1883-4; Salinas, Monterey County, from 1872-3 to 1883-4; Visalia, Tulare County, from 1877-8 to 1882-3; Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, from 1877-8 to 1883-4; San Diego, San Diego County, from 1871-2 to 1883-4; Poway, San Diego County, from 1879-80 to 1883-4: 31 Poway San Diego j Los Angeles i Visalia __. Salinas Saji Francisco ___ Oakland. Sacramento _____ 333 SS3 ; ?i^ i is*-*?; C i i i i j c: 10 r-j o co r~ i I "3 . I I ! ! | CO C4 r-< O 00 j CO' ^t^t^OrHOOCOOOiOt t-r-lr '00 CS) 1C * O >J Cl t-; 1C CS 00 00 rfl O lO r-l t-; o co ad co * i o j-i co ' ri t^ c; n' -M' t~ > t- op c> p r< P PS 32 THE WEATHER. DR. J. B. TREMBLEY ON THE METEOROLOGY OF OAKLAND. Careful observations taken daily during the past year Relative humidity Barometrical pressure Monthly meteorological synopsis Synopsis of Oakland climate for nine years past Table of comparative annual meteorology. The following summary of the weather for 1884 was furnished Sergeant Barwick by Dr. Trembley, of Oakland : Observations taken at 7 A. M., 2 p. M., and 9 P. M. of each day, by J. B. Trembley, M. D.; latitude, 37 48' 20" north; longitude, 122 15' 20" west; height of barometer above the sea, 24 feet. BAROMETRICAL PRESSURE. Table showing the mean, highest, and lowest monthly barometer ; also, the monthly range. Barom- eter not corrected for elevation or temperature. 1884. Mean Monthly Barometer. Highest Observed Barometer for the Month. Lowest Observed Barometer for the Month. Kange for the Month. January 30.05 30.45 29.55 .90 February 30.00 30.36 29.36 1.00 March. 29.88 30.20 29.50 .70 April 29.96 30.18 29.52 .66 May 29.93 30.05 29.78 .27 r*rJ - June 29.92 30.10 29.70 .40 July 29.88 30.04 29.82 .22 August 29.88 30.05 29.79 .26 September 29.96 30.05 29.70 .38 October 29.93 30.10 29.72 .38 November 29.99 30.10 29.72 .33 December 29.98 30.13 29.47 .66 Means 29.94 30.15 29.63 .51.33 BAROMETRICAL RECAPITULATION. Mean barometer for the year 29.94 Maximum barometer for the year, January 1, 9 A. M 30.45 Minimum barometer for the year, February 20, 2 p. M. . 29.36 Highest monthly range for the year 1.00 Lowest monthly range for the year -22 Yearly range .88 33 TEMPERATUEE. Table showing the mean temperature of the months, warmest and coldest days; also, maximum and minimum temperature, the greatest and Least daily variations, monthly and mean daily range. 1884. Mean Temperature of the Month Mean Temperature of Warmest Days. Mean Temperature of Coldest Days___ Maximum Temper- ature Minimum Temper- Q II $ < i g ol g T 1 Monthly Range of Temperature Mean Daily Range of Temperature January _ 47.04 53.33 41.66 60.00 31.00 26.00 2.00 29.00 11.64 February 48.33 57.66 36.00 73.00 28.00 26.00 1.00 45.00 12 65 March 53.17 59.66 45.33 67.00 38.00 23.00 1.00 29.00 10.77 April 54.27 59.66 47.33 70.00 43.00 20.00 1.00 27.00 11.30 May 59.33 64.66 56.00 81.00 48.00 29.00 5.00 33.00 11.90 r ^ - June 60.80 63.33 57.66 73.00 54.00 17.00 4.00 19.00 7.50 July 63.40 72.66 59.33 88.00 55.00 27.00 4.00 33.00 13.74 August 61.47 66.00 59.00 78.00 54.00 20.00 5.00 24.00 11.22 September 59.40 65.33 56.66 76.00 47.00 26.00 6.00 29.00 12.76 October November _ 56.42 55.41 62.64 60.33 52.66 51.00 75.00 70.00 41.00 42.00 28.00 30.00 3.00 5.00 34.00 25.00 13.00 13.16 Decem ber 51.25 59.00 41.33 63.00 30.00 21.00 1.00 33.00 9.64 Means 55.85 62.09 50.31 72.83 42.58 24.41 4.33 30.00 11.64 RECAPITULATION OF TEMPERATURE. Mean temperature of the year 55.85 Mean temperature of the warmest day, July 10th 72.66 Mean temperature of the coldest day, February llth 36.00 Maximum temperature for the year, July 10th, 2 p. M. 88.00 Minimum temperature for the year, February 12th, 7. A. M 28.00 Greatest daily variation, November 4th 30.00 Least daily variation, March 9th 1.00 Greatest monthly range, February 45.00 Least monthly range, June 10.00 Average daily range for the year 11.64 Average monthly range for the year 30.00 Yearly range of temperature 60.00 Mean temperature of Winter 47.38 Mean temperature of Spring 55.59 Mean temperature of Summer 61.89 Mean temperature of Autumn 57.07 Difference between the coldest and warmest of Spring months . 6.16 Difference between the coldest and warmest of Summer months 2.60 Difference between the coldest and warmest of Autumn months 3.99 Difference between the coldest and warmest of Winter months 1.56 Difference between the coldest and warmest months of the year 16.63 34 RELATIVE HUMIDITY. Table shoioi-ng the relative humidity, precipitation, weather, and direction from which the wind blew, from January I, 1884, to December 31, 1884, inclusive. |! 1 Z te! p i E l! is 9 bt Wind 1,098 Observations. 1884. *l 5' H i pi <-<- t o Is 3 02 * bj g g j h- 1 I i| tt a. U "8 ft- ^ Et fr 1 w c ! 1 1 | 1 1 5 w ? i 1 January 83.82 3.81 18 13 9 6 o 12 12 17 17 13 34 February 84.5 5.25 19 10 10 2 2 8 17 10 21 29 March 83.89 8.59 20 11 16 ] 1 3 36 12 IS 23 April 83.84 5.79 21 9 10 3 31 15 19 25 May 82.56 .55 24 7 5 5 47 10 2 g 9 6 "*j - June 88.42 3.03 16 14 10 10 43 4 1 11 31 July 85.24 .00 26 5 2 14 52 4 10 27 August 87.23 1 .25 25 6 1 1 21 46 14 12 21 September 86.09 .35 25 5 2 2 10 38 10 2 14 26 October 86.93 2.80 23 8 4 5 5 20 13 3 6 51 November 90.60 .05 26 4 3 1 5 5 20 7 3 8 52 December 81.17 7.73 17 14 13 1 1 10 20 12 9 22 30 Means & sums. 85 375 35.39 38.20 260 106 19 77 38 382 128 62 151 RECAPITULATION OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY FOR THE YEAR 1884. Mean relative humidity for the year 85.39 Highest relative humidity during the year 100.00 Lowest relative humidity during the year, December 8th, 2 p. M 38.1 Greatest variation of hunlidity in twenty-four hours, September 27th 41.00 Least variation of humidity in twenty-four hours, December 23d .3 Eainfall in inches during the calendar year 38.20 Rainfall in inches during the agricultural year 1883-84 31.10 Rainfall in inches since July 1, 1884 (Bay Nursery) 11.18 Number of clear and fair days ." 260 Number of cloudy days 106 Number of days in which rain fell 85 Number of foggy mornings 19 Number of mornings overcast 77 Number of mornings that frost was seen 38 Wind, direction from southwest and west 382 Wind, direction from northwest and north 128 Wind, direction from northeast and east 62 Wind, direction from southeast and south 151 Calms 375 The following will more particularly illustrate the climate of Oak- land for the nine past years, as it regards the equability of seasons and the difference between the warmest and coldest: Years. Spring. Summer. Autumn. Winter. Difference. 1876 . 54.46 60.40 57.75 48.20 12.20 1877 55.18 61.17 57.67 50.39 10.78 1878 55.73 59.36 56.92 59.12 9.24 1879 56.16 60.07 56.73 49.57 10.50 1880 - - . 52.97 58.95 55.86 45.38 13.57 1881 56.35 60.27 54.78 51.10 9.17 1882 . 54.12 60.06 56.44 46.80 13.26 1883 54.63 61.16 54.25 46.20 19.26 1884 55.59 61.89 57.07 47.38 14.51 Means 55.02 60.67 56.38 48.35 12.37 Difference between the warmest and coldest means of the seasons for nine years, is 12.37. 35 MONTHLY METEOROLOGICAL SYNOPSIS FOR THE YEAR 1884. January Was a wintry month for this climate; chilly, cold, frosty mornings, with frequent storms of rain and hard showers. The usual phenomena attending changeable weather were very marked and extremes reached . The casual phenomena, more particularly marked , was the appearance of the "Pon's Comet," which had been so long looked for, was plainly seen on the evening of the fourteenth, in the southwestern horizon, at an altitude of about forty degrees. Astron- omical science had predicted the return of this comet in January, 1884, after an absence of a little more than threescore years and ten. It making its appearance as predicted was surely a triumph of science, and a great gratification to its votaries. As seen in Oakland, it ap- peared to the eye like a star of the second magnitude, indefinitely luminous. The tail looked several degrees in length, pointing towards the zenith, wider than the nucleus, seemingly made up of parallel rays, the center rays the longest, terminating in a sharp feathery point. Luminous sun-risings and sun-settings were quite frequent, and a number of them were gorgeous to behold. They were more brilliant after the cold frosty weather began to abate, and the barometer was marking very high in its readings; especially when the atmosphere was warming up a few days previous to the heavy rains that occurred from the twenty-fifth to the end of the month. February Like the preceding month, was decidedly wintry. On the seventh a light fall of sleet and snow fell at 3 o'clock A. M., which covered the foothills white with snow, and a few following days and nights were the coldest of Winter; mud froze in the streets sufficiently strong to hold up buggies and their occupants as they rode over this very unusual condition of the streets; water-pipes in some localities froze and bursted. On the twelfth and thirteenth in shady places it froze all day; ice formed in shallow pools of water one inch in thickness; a gale of wind prevailed from the northeast, filling the air with dust, sand, and' a disagreeable chilliness piercing and biting to those who were compelled to be out of doors. Rain began on the fourteenth, which modified the temperature of the atmosphere, and on the fifteenth the rain fell in very hard showers, with a barometer reading of 29.36. Luminous sunsets were seen a number of times during the extreme cold weather, and preceding the high winds and storms. March Very rainy all the month; showers or light rain nearly every day. On the twenty-fifth very hard showers early A. M., showery all day; at 4:45 o'clock p. M., quite a severe earthquake occurred, vibration from northeast to southwest; buildings trembled, win- dows and crockery rattled in some localities. At 9:25 o'clock p. M. a vivid flash of lightning came, followed in quick succession with a loud peal of thunder; rain and hail fell for a few minutes very hard; some telegraph poles in the city were struck by lightning, split from top to bottom and broken off; the City Hall fire-bell was rung by the electric fluid, as it played with the wires of the Fire Department. April A pleasant month, with a large rainfall and growing weather. An earthquake occurred on the seventeenth, at 9:40 o'clock p. M.; a low rumbling noise accompanied it, and a sudden jog from the north- west towards the southeast; no perceptible vibration was noticed. Another light shock of an earthquake occurred at 11:30 o'clock A. M. on the twentieth; no vibration. 36 May Was very pleasant; light showers of rain occurred at differ- ent intervals. On the seventeenth through the day there were strong indications of a storm or shower of rain; in the evening heat light- ning flashed and lighted up the northern and northwestern horizon for an hour or more with electrical flashes. At 9:30 o'clock p. M. quite a hard thunder shower prevailed. Rain fell so as to form pools of water which ran off in the street gutters. The storm resembled an eastern thunder shower for a short time, more than had been observed in Oakland during the whole period of observations eight years. Lightning played and darted in every direction, low thunder mut- tered incessantly in the distance, and rain fell in great drops at each electrical discharge. June The month will long be remembered among meteorologists as one very interesting in the various meteorological phenomena manifested. On the third, from 10 A. M. to 1 P. M., one of the most brilliant and well defined solar halos that is seldom seen, was observed. It was one of twenty-two degrees in diameter, giving out the pris- matic colors very bright and clear; the inner edge of the halo was red, and the colors, as they extended to the outer edge, was of the color of a well defined rainbow; inside of this circle there seemed to be no light from the sun; the whole inner portion was dark up to the sun's disc, which shown or passed some rays of light, as often seen during a thick haze in the western horizon at sunset. Outside of this circle, the light of the sun was greatly obscured, fading from the bright orange color of the outer ring of the halo, into a dark pea- green or olive color, which extended over the whole visible horizon, giving a shadowy appearance to all terrestrial objects, similar to that which prevails at a total eclipse of the sun. At 1:30 o'clock p. M., a strong wind blew from the west, which dissipated the icy particles high up in the atmosphere, and with it the halo disappeared. This remarkable halo prognosticated the weather for the following ten days, and as was said at the time of observing it: that the violence of wind and storms which it indicated, foretold such another as this State or locality had not experienced for many years. The result of the forecasting was well vindicated as all that remember the storms of June, 1884, will attest. In the agricultural portions of the State the early mown hay was much injured, and a great portion destroyed for use. Early fruits were also injured, but later ones were corre- spondingly benefited, as well as late sown grain. July No unusual weather prevailed the month was pleasant. August-r-On the fourth a light shower of rain fell at five o'clock A. M., continuing with a drizzling rain until 1 :30 o'clock p. M. The amount of rain which fell was the first that had fallen in Oakland, that was susceptible to measurement, during the month of August, in eleven years. This rain extended in showers to the valleys lying to the westward of the Diablo range of foothills and mountains. With exception of rather more high overcasts in the mornings than was usual, the month was quite pleasant. September A general storm prevailed over the whole northern and middle portions of the State in showers and drizzling rain. On the seventh and eighth, overcast quite frequent; weather pleasant. The month ending on the thirtieth with a solar halo from 8 to 9 A. M., a gale of wind 12:30 p. M., and a light shower 3 p. M. Evening, clear, cool, wind northwest. October On the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth, a rain storm 37 prevailed, with greater or less violence, over the whole agricultural area of the State. The storm injured some varieties of the grape crop very much, otherwise no injury was done. November Rather a pleasant month ; no unusual meteorological phenomena; very light, drizzling rain and mists occurred several times with a few frosty mornings towards the last. December Was a regular Winter month for this State; frosty morn- ings; low and high fogs; high winds and gales; severe and continuous rain storms for days in duration. On the twenty-fifth low rumbling sounds of thunder were heard several times. Luminous and gorgeous sunsets and sunrisings were observed several evenings, and that which occurred on the morning of the fifteenth was grand indeed; the whole horizon was lighted up with a reddened glow, tinting every cloud with etherial paint. TABLE SHOWING THE COMPAEATITE ANNUAL METEOROLOGY OF 1876, 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, AND 1884. 1876. 1877. 1878. 1879. 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. Mean temperature of the year 55.09 74.00 36.00 97.00 30.00 33.00 2,00 49.00 19.00 14.94 34.92 67.00 83.00 100.00 40.00 4909 .06 21.56 28.53 268 98 63 23 51 35 342 210 34 163 340 54.46 60.40 57.75 48.20 4.40 1.99 6.13 5.00 16.20 56.29 76.00 41.63 96.00 3000 38.00 1.00 47.00 25.00 14.61 35.5 66.00 83.11 100.00 34.40 51.20 .01 11.09 12.33 301 64 58 8 44 35 364 150 63 150 368 55.18 61.17 57.67 50.39 1.49 1.10 7.76 6.09 15.25 55.28 69.33 37.00 84.00 27.00 33.00 2.00 46.00 23.00 13.65 32.5 57.00 84.71 100.00 38.60 45.06 .02 31.71 32.32 255 110 78 17 64 36 311 173 45 164 '402 55.73 59.36 56.92 50.12 3.68 .35 5.93 1.28 13.06 55.11 75.33 33.66 93.00 27.00 46.00 53.69 70.66 41.00 89.00 29.00 36.00 1.00 48.00 28.00 14.10 34.91 60.00 83.70 100.00 27.00 54.40 .20 28.07 23.84 258 108 53 27 86 62 346 136 59 172 385 52.97 58.95 55.86 45.38 9.91 1.88 7.70 2.37 15.78 55.62 70.00 42.00 87.00 31.00 3500 1.00 40.00 21.00 13.40 32.00 56.00 83.25 100.00 29.00 37.40 .30 26.07 31.24 276 89 67 28 52 47 402 136 58 138 331 56.35 60.27 5478 51.10 5.12 1.55 8.79 5,34 12.38 54.49 69.33 35.00 84.00 30.00 11.00 1.00 42.00 19.00 12.80 31.16 54.00 82.57 100.00 28.7 65.7 .4 18.87 18.03 276 89 72 15 77 50 345 150 53 143 404 54.12 60.06 56.44 46.80 5.77 1.13 9.68 2.33 14.77 51.66 84.66 32.33 103.00 25.00 38.00 1.00 50.00 29.00 12.81 37.58 65.00 83.71 100.00 33.9 48.8 .3 15.76 20.22 266 99 53 21 105 58 428 119 29 91 438 54.63 61.16 54.25 46.20 5.60 , 2.78 10.64 5.98 19.26 55.85 72.66 36.00 88.00 28.00 30.00 1.00 45.00 19.00 11.64 30.00 60.00 85.39 100.00 38.1 31.00 .3 38.20 31.10 260 106 85 19 77 38 382 128 151 375 55.59 61.89 57.07 47.38 6.16 2.60 3.99 1.56 16.38 Mean temperature of warmest day Mean temperature of coldest dav Maximum temperature for the year Minimum temperature for the year Greatest daily variation of temperature Least daily variation of temperature Greatest monthly range of temperature Least monthly range of temperature Average daily range of temperature for year _ 46.00 30.00 12.96 38.00 6600 85.29 100.00 39.00 58.00 .30 28.91 23.55 266 99 89 19 63 46 355 150 50 126 372 56.15 60.07 56.73 47.60 .70 1.26 9.14 5.13 15.68 Average monthly range of temperature for year. __ _ __ _ __ _ Yearly range of temperature Mean relative humidity for year Highest relative humidity for year _ _ Lowest relative humidity for year Greatest variation humidity in 24 hours Least variation humidity in 24 hours Rainfall in inches during the year Rainfall in inches in agricultural years from July 1, 1876, to July 1, 1884 Numberof clearand fair days during year_ Number of cloudy days during year Number of days in which rain fell Number of foggy mornings _ _ __ Number of mornings overcast Number of mornings that frost was seen. Wind, direction from S.W. and W. Wind, direction from N W. and W. Wind, direction from N E. and N Wind, direction from S.E. and S. Calms Seasons. Mean temperature of Spring Mean temperature of Summer Mean temperature of Autumn Mean temperature of Winter. Difference between the warmest and cold- est months of Spring Difference between the warmest and cold- est months of Summer Difference between the warmest and cold- est months of Autumn Difference between the warmest and cold- est months of Winter Difference between the warmest and cold- est months of the year FOR NINE YEARS. Mean difference between the coldest and warmest months for nine years 19.67 Mean temperature for nine years 55.12 Mean barometer for nine years 29.94 Mean relative humidity for nine years 83.97 Mean annual rainfall in inches for nine years 24.45 38 MODIFYING CAUSES OF THE CLIMATE ON THE PACIFIC COAST OF THE UNITED STATES AND BRITISH COLUMBIA. FURNISHED SERGEANT JAMES A. BARWICK, SIGNAL CORPS, U. S. A., SACRA- MENTO, CALIFORNIA, BY DR. J. B. TREMBLEY OF OAKLAND. It is said that every country in the world, to a greater or less extent, has a climate peculiar to itself. In many respects it may be similar to that of another, but not identical, for the various factors that go to make it are not always equally alike, or bring the same influences to bear on each individual region of the earth. It was once thought that climate depended mostly on latitude and the declination of the sun either north or south of the equator; but more recent observa- tions show that many other causes which are independent of these modify temperatures and precipitation. The western coast of Europe and North America are examples of similar climate, modified by the same corresponding causes, ocean and air currents. Without entering into an extended inquiry over the various portions of the world in comparing climatic factors, which would be uninteresting to a majority of readers and embrace more than is designed to be written in this paper; therefore, the knowledge, positive and theoretical, of the climatic conditions that are imposed upon the western slope of the Pacific Coast, bordering on the ocean, from Alaska towards the south, and the causes as far as observed, is all that would interest the local or general reader. The same general causes that modify the climate of Alaska, British Columbia, Oregon, and California, extending into Mexico, have long been known to meteorologists and those who have made physical geography a study. But the many local modifying influences that these great currents of water and air meet with, as they impinge upon the northwestern coast of the continent, by high mountain ranges, inland valleys, and solar heat, gives as various climates as the topography of the country is different where their influence is felt. The ocean current that modifies the climate of the Pacific Coast is a portion of the great equatorial current which is deflected northerly and easterly when it meets the eastern coast of Asia. This current, a portion of the warm equatorial current, as it flows toward the northwest, washing the eastern shores of China and Japan, takes the name of the Japan current, or Kuro-Siwo. At or near latitude 50 and longitude 170. it divides; one portion, continuing northerly, passes through Behring Straits, the other south of the Aleutian Islands assumes the name of the Aleutian current. It advances eastward until it strikes the north- west coast of North America; then, turning acutely to the southeast, flowing along the western shore, until what is left is drawn into the great equatorial current at or near the Tropic of Cancer, again to make the circuit of nearly a quarter of a hemisphere. Various ele- 39 ments of this great current, when taken into consideration, that go to make it one of the physical constants in the formation of climate, seems as yet but partially understood. Its depth, width, velocity, and temperature have not been investigated as have some of the currents of the Atlantic Ocean. Professor Davidson, of San Francisco, seems to have been almost the only one who has given this subject any attention, with the exception of some casual observers, who have here and there made memoranda for their own curiosity. The professor starts with a maximum temperature of the Japan current of 88 Fah- renheit. At Alaska, 50.06. Six to eight hundred miles west from San Francisco, 60.33; one hundred miles west, 55.05. At the tidal station at Fort Point the mean temperature for eight years was 55.66, that of the air being 54.97. The mean temperature of the ocean nine hundred miles west of San Francisco for one year was 60.52, as found by the ocean steamers going and coming from Yokohama to San Francisco. This shows a difference of temperature to be in the water of the ocean current one hundred miles to the west and that at the tidal station on shore to be .61 less; at six to eight hundred miles 4.67 greater; at nine hundred miles, 4.86 greater or warmer. The great ocean current in flowing from its origin to the coast of California has parted with 32.34 of heat; or, in other words, has lost, from the average temperature of the equatorial waters (78), 22.34, and leaves an average surface ocean temperature, to the distance of 900 miles west of California, of 57.89. The temperature of the air along the coast, and the water, hardly ever rises more than two or three degrees, and the above figures show only 2.92 for the average difference in temperature of the water and air over a large area of the ocean contiguous to the Pacific Coast, and gives an explanation of the low temperature at the base of the atmospherical column that rests on the ocean's water. Also the great freedom from rain during the Summer months, when the westerly winds overcast and fogs prevail. For the purpose designed by this paper, the above is all the infor- mation that can be obtained bearing upon the temperature of the ocean's water in the vicinity of this coast, with the exception of the counter or eddying current, said to have been discovered by Professor Davidson; who in describing the great stream that flows across the ocean, remarks that "a branch of this current continues direct to the Alexandrian Archipelago, and, striking the southern part of the coast, is deflected to the northward and westward," and calls it the warm Alaska current, which causes the high isothermal lines that exist directly on the Alaskan coast. The great aerial air current that moves with the ocean stream, is the counter trade wind of the northern hemisphere, and seems to deter- mine the character of the climate, almost wholly, of California. As it strikes this coast it is always the high current, and flowing from a westerly direction changing but very little the point of the compass at the same date of time in each year. It oscillates from the south of west at one portion of the year to the north of west at another, moving from north to south with the declina- tion of the sun, and then back again. During the Summer season it blows nearly from the west, and in the Winter, being acted on by the polar winds, is given a more northwesterly direction. Physical geography has so well described the great systems of atmos- pherical currents that it is superfluous to enter into a description of all the winds, and the laws that produce them. Owing to solar heat, 40 and the diurnal motion of the earth, three distinct belts or systems of winds are produced. Easterly winds in the tropical zone, westerly winds in the temperate zone, and northerly or northwesterly in the higher latitudes. These zones of wind move bodily to and fro with the vertical rays of the sun, toward the north in Summer, and toward the south in the Winter. On the movement of these zones of water and air, rests the causes of the wet and dry seasons over the great area of country bordering on the western coast of the United States. The most philosophical and scientific dissertation, perhaps, on this subject, for depth of research, long and patient labor, appertaining to the wind currents, climate of California and contiguous territory, was made by the late lamented B. B. Redding, and read before the Acad- emy of Sciences in San Francisco, in January, 1878. His observa- tions are as follows: 'As California'is within the northern temperate zone, it is primarily to the movement as a body north or south of this belt of wind that we are indebted for our dry Summers and Winter rains. Where, within the tropics, the northeastern and southeastern trade winds meet, is a region of calms and rains. This belt of calms and rains, as has been stated, moves northward and southward with the sun's declination. Where, within the temperate zone, the northern and northwesterly winds from the polar regions meet the westerly return trade winds, is a region of storms and rains. These belts also follow the sun's declination north and south. Applying these laws to this coast, at our midsummer the vertical sun would be on the Tropic of Cancer, and in that vicinity the northeasterly and southeasterly trade winds would meet, create ascending air, consequently calms. This air, laden with moisture, would rise into cooler regions, when a portion of its moisture would be precipitated, making tropical rains. This air would flow north and south, towards the poles. Confining our view to that portion which would flow toward the north pole, the larger part of it must descend to the earth within thirty degrees of latitude, under the law as stated by Professor Henry. As in going north it contin- uously has to pass over a portion of the earth which is moving less rapidly than the portion it has left, it is deflected and becomes a southwest wind. The greater portion of this upper cur- rent having descended to the earth within thirty degrees, and returned to join the trade wind, the remainder would flow towards the pole, portions descending in its course at all points where the rarification of the air near the earth's surface would permit. These descending currents cause the local variable winds of our temperate zone, but the aggregate of all of them is the prevailing westerly return trade wind. The descending currents cannot give rain, as they only fall to the earth when they become colder than the air near the earth's surface. In falling they are constantly arriving at places of warmer temperature than those they have left; they, therefore, change to a condition of taking up moisture, rather than of parting with it. Where the great body of the descending return trade wind reaches the earth between latitudes twenty-eight degrees and thirty -five degrees, must, therefore, on this coast, be comparatively a rainless region. Other lessening portions of the upper current would pass on until they met the prevailing northerly wind from the polar regions, when their temperature would be lowered and their moisture condensed and fall as rain. The conflict of this descending current with the polar wind would create storms and give rise to electrical phenomena. The prevailing northerly polar wind reaches to about latitude sixty degrees, varied by the declination of the sun. This view of the causes of the tropical, temperate, and polar zones of prevailing winds, is in accordance with the theoretical deductions of Professor Ferrell concerning the course of atmos- pheric currents moving on a sphere, and appears to be confirmed by the belts of low barometer prevailing in the vicinities of the equator, and of latitude sixty degrees. The polar wind, being colder, is heavier than the return trade wind, and where they meet, the tendency is for this polar wind to become a surface wind, and prevent the upper current from reaching the earth until it has been reduced to the same temperature. The operation of these general laws can be more clearly seen on this coast than on that of the Atlantic and Gulf States. There, the north- east trade winds are forced into the great caldron of the Gulf of Mexico. The Cordilleras of Central and South America and Mexico form a wall against their progress ; they rise, turn to the north as an upper current, and return to the earth as southwest winds. The Eocky Mountains, one great chain of which extends from the center of the continent north- westerly to the Arctic Ocean, assist in the deflection. The great prairies extend in an unbroken line in the same direction from the mouth of the Mississippi, to the same frozen ocean at the mouth of the McKenzie River, in about latitude sixty-two degrees. Professor J. W. Foster, in his work on the "Physical Geography of the Mississippi Valley," states that the sources of the Mississippi River are but 1,600 feet above the ocean. Professor Coffin has shown from the records in the Smithsonian Institute, in his article on the "Winds of the Northern Hemisphere," that between latitudes sixty and sixty-six degrees there prevails a belt of easterly and north- easterly winds. These winds, coming from the Arctic Ocean, meet the great chain of the Rocky Mountains, are deflected into northwest winds, and pass unobstructed along this great stretch of prairie land into the States east of the Rocky Mountains. The conflict between the northwest 41 polar winds and the moisture laden southwest winds from the Gulf of Mexico, gives all the Atlantic States north of Florida their Summer rains. As far back as 1850, Professor Espy, in his second report on meteorology to the Secretary of the Navv, without, at that time, more than suspecting the cause, reported as the result of a long series of observations, that in the northern part of the Atlantic States the winds generally? in great storms, set in from north of east, and terminate from north of west, and in the southern part of the Atlantic States they set in from south of east and terminate from south of west. It is doubtful if the Atlantic trade winds ever give rain to California. That portion which passes the mountains through the valley of the Rio Grande, precipitating its moisture on the White Mountains and Black Hills of Arizona, which, by the meteorological records of the Smithsonian Institute, are shown to have an annual average of twenty inches of rain. That these general laws may be applied to California as the cause of our climate, I will assume to follow a given portion of air along well known points on the coast. At midsummer, at noon, the sun would be vertical in Southern California just north of Cape St. Lucas. In this vicinity, this portion of air, having been a part of the trade wind, would have become heated and saturated with moisture. It would rise until it met colder regions, when it would part with some of its moisture; a portion would return to the earth within thirty degrees, again to join the trade winds, and another portion pass on towards the north as a part of the great upper current. Under the operation of Profossor Henry's law, the greater part must return to the earth between latitude thirty degrees and, say, latitude thirty-five degrees; the remainder would flow on towards the pole until it met the prevailing northwesterly winds; at these points there would be fogs and Summer rains. Whenever the polar wind forced its way south of this, it would condense the moisture of these descending return trade winds and give rain. This they would do until they had passed so far south that their temperature would be raised to that of the descending return trades, when, of course, no moisture could be precipitated. It is these polar winds, forcing themselves among the descending return trade winds, that give British Columbia, Washington Territory, and Northern Oregon their Summer showers. Should they force themselves further south, they, in their passage, have to pass into warmer latitudes; they would also meet the heat of our great valleys and deserts, and become as warm as our prevail- ing Summer wind, and, therefore, could not give California Summer rains. But, from midsummer, the sun is for six months moving south, taking with him the great belts of winds of the tropical, temperate, and polar zones, until, at our midwinter, his rays are vertical just north of the northern part of Chile, in South America. These belts, moving south with the sun during six months, the region of conflict between the polar winds and the variable winds which in Summer was over British Columbia, Washington Territory, and Oregon, has now moved south over Oregon and the northern and middle part of California. The temper- ature of the earth's surface and the air in contact with it, have been lowered by the withdrawal of the sun's more direct rays, and the polar winds are permitted to reach further to the south without increasing their temperature. The region of calms and the southern limit of the variable winds have, of course, also moved south with the sun, beyond the Tropic of Cancer. At this season, in the Pacific, the trade wind is not usually found north of latitude thirteen degrees, when, in Winter, the descending return trade wind, coming from the southwest, meets the coast south of Cape St. Lucas, it is forced by the Cordilleras and the configuration of the main coast into the Gulf of California, and is deflected into a course from the southeast, or, to be more exact, as shown by the records kept by Dr. Gibbons, into a course from the south-south- east. Without doubt, the southwest return trade wind which strikes the coast of Lower Cali- fornia in Winter north of Cape St. Lucas, is deflected by the high mountains parallel to the shore, and also passes over our coast counties as a southeast wind. H. S. Warner, in a paper read before the American Association for the Advancement of Science at its Baltimore meeting in 1858, was the first to note the fact that the waters of the Gulf of California supply the moist- ure to the southeast wind that bears to us our rains. It may be objected that the Gulf of Cali- fornia has not sufficient area from whence could be delivered the great volume of southeast winds that, at times, during our Winters, flow over this State. The gulf is not the cause of this wind, but it is the channel through which it flows, and gives to it direction. When the sun is vertical on the coast of Bolivia, just north of Chile at our midwinter he has carried south with him the northeast trade winds, until, as has been stated, they do not prevail north of about latitude thirteen degrees. The region of calms, where the great body of the upper current returns to the earth again to join the trade winds, is, at this^season, between latitudes thirteen and eighteen degrees. North of this region of cairns, at this time, those portions of the upper current which pass further north, descend to the earth, under Professor Henry's law, as southwest winds. At latitude twentv degrees, the west coast of Mexico projects a bold head- land into the Pacific Ocean, known as* Cape Corrientes. South of the Cape the trend of the coast for nearly two thousand miles is east-southeast; north of this cape, the trend of the coast for more than one hundred miles, to Mazatlan, is north; from Mazatlan to the head of the Gulf of California, a further distance of six hundred miles, it is north-northwest. The Sonora arm of the Cordilleras rises above the table land of Mexico, at latitude twenty degrees, and runs north-northwest along the coast, nearly to the head of the Gulf of California. All of these southwest winds that strike the coast from Cape Corrientes north to Cape St. Lucas, are deflected by these mountains and forced up the Gulf as south-southeast winds. The United States Coast Survey have lately completed the survey of this gulf and parts of the Mexican coast north of Cape Corrientes. When their record of observations of the course of the prevailing winds in Winter, the barometric pressure and the temperature of the air and water is published, I feel 3t 42 confident that it will be found that the southwest return trades prevail in Winter north of Cape Corrientes, and are turned by the mountains and the coast up the Gulf of California, and so over this State as our southeast winds. It comes from this gulf warm and laden with moist- ure, and passes over the Colorado and Mojave deserts. These deserts, as shown by the meteor- ological records of the Smithsonian Institute, have a mean Winter temperature of from forty-eight to fifty-six degrees. This is not sufficiently low to precipitate its moisture, and it passes on until it meets the Sierra 'Nevada and Coast Range. In ascending these it rises into cooler regions, finds a mean Winter temperature of forty degrees, and gives up some of its moist- ure. When it flows down into the southern end of the great valley of the Tulare, it meets a mean Winter temperature of forty-eight degrees, which is higher than that of the mountains it has just passed. It therefore retains its moisture and passes on, until it meets a cold polar wind, and has another portion of its moisture condensed in a rainstorm, or, failing to meet this, passing still further north, until its moisture is condensed by the prevailing low tempera- ture of a higher latitude. It is of frequent occurrence in Winter that a gentle southeast wind will blow for days, giving no rain south of the latitude of San Francisco, but cloudy weather at the northern end of the Sacramento Valley, and light showers and rains from Red Bluff to Oregon. Therefore, the northern part of the State should receive more rain than the southern, and the mountains more than the valleys. The least rain should be in the hot deserts and on those sides of valleys most sheltered by mountains from the moisture-bearing winds. Meteorological observations, taken since the writing of the above, fully confirm the assertion made respecting the rainfall, however phenomenal it may appear to be, and show, conclusively, that the precipitation in all the territory tributary to the influence of the above factors of climate, is subservient to meteorological laws, the same as in other parts of the world, differing only as the physical causes differ that produce the resultant effects. The average annual rainfall at Crescent City, in the extreme northern part of the State of California, is thirty-six inches, and diminishes about two inches for every degree of latitude towards the south, until, at San Diego, it is but ten inches. In altitude, it is found to increase about one inch for every one hun- dred feet in elevation in ascending the windward side of the Sierra Nevada range of mountains. Local causes have influences bearing upon the amount of rainfall in different localities, but they are nearly all topographical; and, when carefully studied, are easily explained, either for the small or great amount of average rainfall they receive. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY, BERKELEY DATE MAR 28 MAR 28 1932 Gay lord Bros. Makers Syracuse, N. Y PAT. JAN. 21 ,1908 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY