Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-11
THE COLD WAVE.
Records of Three Sacramento Observers
at Different Print. IN lie City.


he following interesting tabg,ated mat
ter during January last shows the lowest
temperature recorded by self registering
instruments in different parts of the city
Captain Foster. of the steamboat company,
has his thermometer al his residence,
southwest corner of Eleventh and F
streets. 1t is q Green's standard signal
service self-registering instrument, and is
exposed under a grapevine arbor about
five feet from the ground in his back yard,
the twC-s.OTy house breaking somewhat
the force of the north winds.
S. Il. Gerrish's Is a Sixe selfregis.ering
thermometer, manufactured Dv Hicks Of
London, England and is situated in his
back yard at 1917 G street. being on the
north side of the street. The thermometer
is exposed to the full effect of radiation TO
the SKY, there being no covering over it.
and IS in the back yard subject to the full
force and effects OF the north winds. which
are cold in winter and hot in spring, sum
mer and fall. Mr.. Gerrishs Thermometer
Is about five or six feet above the ground
The Signal Service thermometer is a
Green's standard minimum self-reg1sterlng
instrument exposed on the roof Ofthe Signal
office building, at III street, 81 feet above
the ground, and IS IN single latticed shell
ter, Signal Service pattern. The wind blows
through the shelter in all directions.
The table below shows that during the
81 days of January there were but TWO
upon which each observer recorded the
same minimum temperature, and singu-
larly, too, the minimum temperature was
the same on both the days, being 81 On
both the 18th and 10Th. The wind was
north, blowing nine miles per hour. and
weather cloudy at 4 4. NJ. of the 18th and
southwest, four miles per hour. and weather
cloudy, on the 10Th.
Captain Fosters record, and the Signal
Service record were the same on eight
days, as follows; 18th, $40; 18th, $50 a;
18th, 220 ; 18th, $40; Goth, $50 DIST. 40 a;
23d, 49' oath, 420. There were but three
days upon which the records of Mr.. Ger
IRISH and the Signal office conceded. those
being the 18th, $40; 18th, $40, and 22d. 45o.
The average difference during the month
was as follows Captain Foster | 50 lower
than the Signal Service. Ito higher than
Mr.. Gerrish; while the records OF the latter
gentleman show an average difference of
2.9' less than the Signal Service and !. 10
less than Captain Foster.
There were sixteen days in January that
were cloudy al 4. NJ. The average mini
days at the above hour was Foster. 80 90 .
Gerrish, 80 50; Signal Service. Al .6o-mak-
ing the latter only 10 higher than Foster
and l.S0 higher than Gerrish. The fifteen
days that were clear or fair at A. NJ. show
an average minimum Of % 90 for Foster.
25.30 for Gerrish and % 80 for the Signal
Service, making the latter 2.6o higher than
Foster and 40 higher than GerrIsh. The
greatest difference (6o) between the read
lngs of Mr.. Gerrishs thermometer and that
of the Signal Service, occurred on the 9TH.
Sth, 9th and 10th. At each time the wind
was from the north and gentle in velocity,
and calm on the Sth. The weather was
clear each day.
The least difference was 10. on the LIST.
18th, 10th, Dist, oath and 10Th. The weather
was rainy or cloudy on each day, except on
| the 18th, when it was blowing briskly from
the north. There does not appear to be so
| much difference between the readings of
the Signal Office and Captain Fosters
as there is between the Signal Office
and Mr.. Gerrish's records. 1t appears
from the above comparisons Tor Jan
uary that, as a general thing, there is a
difference of from % to 50 in clear weather
| between thermometers five feet above the
ground and those located sixty-one feet
above. The difference is greater in calm
weather or during light to gentle winds,
! and when the temperature is below the
| freezing point. The least difference in
clear weather usually occurs when it is
quite windy-that is, when the wind is
fresh to brisk and high. In cloudy weather
there IS less difference than in clear weather,
because the clouds reflect the heat back to
the earth, and prevent the rapid radiation
from all substances growing on the earth's
surface, and prevents the heat from escap-
ing so rapidly from the earth's surface by
radiation.
This table of companions will give q
good idea of the various currents of air
throughout the city. The Signal Office
being near the river within one block, its
minimum should be little higher, while
| Captain Fosters is about fifteen blocks, OF
| over mile, northeast of the Signal Office
and on the corner of a wide street, while
Mr.. Gerrish's place of residence and OBJ
servation are very nearly one mile north
east OF the Signal Office, and are situated
| in the middle of the block.
COMPARISON OF RECORDS