British Rainfall 1867, p.21
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British Rainfall 1867 page 21
One of Dr. Miller's principal deductions was, that the amount collected increased with the elevation up to 2,000 ft., and then diminished. Grouping the whole of the returns according to altitude, we get:- |
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This would indicate that the maximum occurs at nearer 1,000
ft. than 2,000 ft; and the same indication results from
grouping the stations having 100 in. and upwards, according
to their amounts. There are 14 such stations; their mean
fall is 128 in., and mean altitude 785 ft. There are 5
stations having more than 128 in., and their mean altitude
is 789ft; and there are 9 having between 100 in. and 128
in., and their mean altitude is 782 ft., thus showing how
slight is the effect of altitude. Lastly, the wettest spot
known is at 1,077 ft., the next wettest at 422 ft., and
there is only one station above 1,500 ft. which has a fall
of even 100 in.
The slight effect of altitude is evident all through the table - for instance, Skiddaw (18) is 1,400 ft. above Keswick (17), yet the amounts only differ by one inch. Again, Wythburn (20), and Birkside (21), differ by 1,200 ft., and in amount only by 4 in. Sometimes the amount is largely in excess at the lower station; as with Elterwater (23), at the foot of Loughrigg and Loughrigg Fell-top (24), a difference of 850 ft., and a deficiency of 15 in. at the greater elevation. Concerning the distribution of rain in the district, the following appear indisputable facts:- 1. That there are various spots in the district at which the true mean annual rainfall is above 100 in. 2. That true mean falls of 125 in. and upwards are at present only known to occur at the head of Borrowdale. 3. That in the greater part of the district the fall is 80 in. or 90 in., and that these heavy falls occur almost as far to the east as Shap; but that the amount in the north-eastern parts decreases with great rapidity, the clouds having been previously condensed by contact with the mountain-tops, until a few miles N.E. of Penrith is probably almost as dry as Bedford. |
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