1791-92 December 8, 1791 1792-93 Decem. 12, 1792| 1793-94 Decem, 26, 1793 *March 17, 1794 81 days. 1794-95 January 12, 1795| 1795-96 January 23, 1796 1796-97 Novem. 28, 1796 1810-11 Decem. 14, 1810 1811-12 Decem. 20, 1811 1812-13 Decem. 21, 1812*March 13, 1813 83 days. †1813-14 Decem. 22, 1813 1814-15 Decem. 10, 1814 1816 1815-16 Decem. 2, 1815 1816-17 Decem. 18, $1817-18 Decem. 7, 1818-19 Decem. 14, 1819-20 Decem. 13, ||1820-21 Novem. 13, 1821-22 Decem. 13, 1822-23 Decem. 24, T1823-24 Decem. 16, 1824-25 January 5, 1825-26 Decem. 13, ** 1817 March 25, 1826-27 Decem. 24, 1826 *March 20, *1827—28*Novem. 25, 1827 *Feb. 8, 1828-29 *Decem. 23, 1828 *April 1, 1829-30 *January 11, 1830* March 15, ††1830-31*Decem. 23, 1830*March 15, 1831-32 *Decem. 5, 1831 *March 25, 1832-33*Decem. 21, 1832 *March 21, [For notes, sec next page.] It is interesting to inquire how far the results thus obtained accord with previous general views on the subject. These, as I have already intimated, are no where more fully or satisfactorily elucidated, than in the memoir of Humboldt. I propose, in the conclusion of this paper, to test some of his positions by the present observations. If they do not agree with his deductions, there is doubtless inaccuracy in some one or other respect, while if they on the whole correspond, a useful addition will be made to the mass of facts in this yet imperfect science. He remarks that the Isothermal line of 50° in N. America passes near Boston, and founds this apparently in part on observations made at Ipswich and Cambridge, (Mass.) He also illustrates his position, that there is a greater variety between the seasons in the new than in the old world, by references to the latter place; and again, he states the mean temperature of America, east of the Alleganies, at various degrees of latitude, either by deductions from "direct observations, or by interpolations between a great number of observations made in neighboring places and situated under the same meridian.”* Let us group these together and then compare them with the present tables. * Edinburgh Philosophical Journal, vol. 3, p. 257, 258, 265. In another part of his memoir (vol. 5, p. 33,) he gives the mean temperature of Cambridge, from two years' observations at Boston, as 50.36; winter 33.98; summer, 70.70. † During this winter the Peripneumenia typhodes prevailed as an epidemic in Albany It opened again Dec. 14, and closed December 21st. This winter was long and intensely cold. Ou the 3d of March, 1818, the ice moved in a body downwards for some distance, and there remained stationary. The river was not clear until March 25th. The river closed on the 13th, opened on the 20th, and finally closed December 1. This was one of the four winters during a century, in which the Hudson between Powles'-Hook and New-York was crossed on the ice. The other three being 1740-41, 1764-65 and 1779-80. Jan. 11, 1324. The river was clear of ice and remained so for several days. **The river opened and closed repeatedly during this winter; Dec. 21 it closed a second time. 1828, Feb. 9. Wild ducks and pigeons flew over the city.— J. Stevenson. + Opened in consequence of heavy rains, and closed again on the 10th January, 1831. Opened again January 3; closed again January 11. Other observations made by our author need but a glance at the tables for their verification. Among these I may specify the following: "The increase of vernal temperature is great (from 14°4 or 16°2 in the space of a month,) and equally prolonged, wherelever the division of the annual heat between the seasons is very unequal, as in the north of Europe and in the temperature of the United States." And again, "In all places, whose mean temperature is below 62°6, the revival of nature takes place in spring in that month whose mean temperature reaches 42°8 or 46°4. When a month rises to 41°9 the peach flowers. 46 8 the plum flowers. 51 8 the birch tree (Betula Alba) pushes out its leaves.* On one point I have found a difference. Baron Humboldt, in opposition to Kirwan, and from observations deduced from numerous European tables, asserts that the mean temperature of October approaches nearer to that of the whole year than the tempera * Edinburgh Phil. Journal, vol, 4, p, 30, 32. ture of April, as was asserted by Kirwan. The following result has been here obtained. I have naturally been anxious to ascertain how far the result of these observations corresponds with the formula of Dr. Brewster, and on this point have been favored with the following observations by my colleague, Professor Ten Eyck. "Dr. Brewster's formula for finding the mean temperature of a place is (mean temp. 86.3° Sin D-31,) or 86.3° multiplied by the sine of the distance of the place from the nearest isothermal pole, and 31 subtracted from the product. The result is the mean temperature. The mean temperature at the equator in the warmest meridian is 82.8°, and at the pole -310. * The distance of Albany, Latitude 42° 38' 39" from the isothermal pole calculated by Dr. Brewster's formula is 38° 34' 51", and by calculation the mean temperature will be 50.3191". *The nearest isothermal pole is situated in lat. 80, N. and 100 west longitude By the preceding observations it is 49.04; but it must be recollected that the results of several very intense winters enter into the elements from which it is deduced. The temperature of wells, as observed in August and September, 1829, was 51°. As it may be interesting, I add the results obtained in places of nearly the same latitude with Albany. The late Dr. Holyoke, of Salem, made observations in that town during a period of 33 years, (from 1786 to 1818 inclusive.) These observations were made four times a day, at 8 A. M., at noon, at sunset, and at 10 P. M. Professor Dewey made meteorological observations at Williamstown, (Mass.) for four years, 1816 to 1819 inclusive. Latitude, 42.30. Longitude, 73.00. Mean temperature for four years, 44°73. Height of Williamstown above the tide waters of the Hudson at Troy, 1,000 feet.† Height of Albany only 130 feet. American Almanac for 1833. + Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, vol. 4, pages 382, 387. |