Evening star., 1897-07-30
MANY INTERESTING STATISTICS GIVEN
Rainfall, Temperature and othe
Details of KIondyke Region.
THE CLIMATIC CHANGES

| region.
The report states that the general con
| ception of Alaskan climate is due to thos
who follow the sea. which is not strange
| considering the fact that the territory ha.
| q shore line extent Of over 5000 miles
| The natural contrast between sea and lant
! is tremendously increased by the curren
| Of warm water flowing on the coast O.
British Columbia. One branch tends north
| ward toward Sitka, thence westward t.
| the Kadiak and Shumagin Islands TIL,
| climates of the coast and the interior ar,
unlike in many respects, and the differ
ences are intensified in this, as perhaps il
few other countries. by exceptional physi
cal conditions.
Distinct Climatic Division.
The report continues as follows:
1.-The fringe of islands that separates the
| mainland from the Pacific ocean from
Dixon sound northward and also a stril
of the mainland for possibly twenty miles
back from the sea, following the sweep ol
the coast as it curves 10 the northwest.
ward to the western extremity of Alaska,
form distinct climate division which may
| be termed temperate Alaska. The tempera.
ture rarely falls to zero; winter does no;
set in until December 1, and by the last OF
May the snow has disappeared except or
the mountains. The mean winter tempera.
ture of Sitka Is 32.5, but little less than that
of Washington, D. c. While Sitka is fully
exposed to the sea influence, places farther
inland, but not over the coast range OF
mountains, as Killisnoo and Juneau have
also mild temperatures throughout the win
ter months. The temperature changes
from month 10 month in temperate Alaska
are small, not exceeding % degrees from,
midwinter to midsummer. The average
Nor frtra nf I1IIv fha ncf
of summer, rarely reaches % degrees, and
the highest temperature of a single day
seldom reaches 70 degrees.
THE rainfall Of temperate Alaska is 1Io-
torious the world over, not only as regard
the quantity that falls. but also as to the
manner of its falling, viz, in long and in
cessant rains and drizzles. Cloud and fog
naturally abound, there being on an aver
age but sixty-six clear days in the year.
Land of Striking Contrasts.
ALASKA is a land of striking contrasts.
both in climate as we'll as topography.
When the sun Shines the atmosphere is re-
markably clear, the scenic effects are mag
nificent; all nature seems to be in kolid ~
attire. But the scene may change very
quickly; the sky becomes overcast; the
winds increase in force; rain begins to fall;
the evergreens sigh ominously, and utter
desolation and loneliness prevail
climate becomes more rigorous in winter,
but in summer the difference is much less
marked. Thus. at st. Michaels, a short
distance north Of THE mouth of the Yukon,
grees, but degrees cooler than Sitka. The
mean summer temperature of Point Bar
row, the most northerly point in the United
States, is 1868 degrees. but four-tenths Of a
degree less than the temperature of the air
flowing across the summit Of Pixies Peak,
Col. 'i ''l~.
The rainfall of the coast region north of
the Yukon delta Is small, diminishing to
less than ten inches within the arctic circle.
"The climate of the interior, including
In that designation practically all of the
country except Earrow fringe of coastal
margin and the territory before referred
10 as temperate Alaska, is one of extreme
r1gor in winter, with a brief but rela-
lively hot summer, especially when the
sky is free from clouds
In the klondyke region in midwinter the
sun rises from $50 to 10 am. and sets from
z to 8 r. M. the total length of DAYLIGHT he
Ing about four, hours. Remembering tina I
the sun rises but few degrees above the
horizon, and that 1t is wholly obscured on
a great many days, the character of the
winter months may easily be imagined.
Mean Temperature.
we are indebted to the United States
coast and geodetic survey for a series of
six months observations on the Yukon,
not far from the site of the present gold
discoveries. The observations were made
with standard Instruments, and are wholly
reliable. The mean temperatures of the
months of October, 1889, to April, 1880, both
inclusive. are as, follows: October 83
degrees; November. 8 degrees: December,
IL degrees below zero; January, II degrees
below zero: February, Is degrees below
zero; March, 9 degrees above zero; April,
20 degrees above. The daily mean tempera-
ture fell and remained below the freezing
point C32), from November 4, 1889. to April
Il, 1880, thus giving 16S days as the length
of the closed season of 1SS9-0O, assuming
the outdoor operations are controlled by
temperature only.
The lowest temperatures registered dur
Ing the winter were: 32 degrees below zero
in November, Al below in December, 50 be-
low in January, IS below IN February, As
below In March, 26 below In April.
The greatest continuous cold occurred in
February. 1890. when the daily mean for
fve consecutive days was Al degrees below
zero. The weather moderated slightly
about the 1st Of March, but the tempera-
ture still remained below the freezing point.
Generally cloudy weather prevailed there
being but three consecutive days in any
month with clear weather during the whole
winter. Snow fell on about one-third of the
days in winter, and less number in the
early spring and late fall months.
Snow In September.
Greater cold than that here noted has
been experiencedi in the United States for a
very short time. but never has 1t continued
so very cold for so long time. In the in
terror of Alaska the winter sets in as early
as September, when snow storms may be
expected in the mountains and passes.
Headway during one of these storms is i'm
possible. and the Traveller who is overtaken
by one Of them is indeed fortunate If he es-
capes with his lifee Snow storms Of great
severity may occurtn any month from Sep
tember to May. inclusive.
''The changes Of temperature from winter
to summer are rapid. owing to the great In
crease In the length of the day. In May
the sun rises at about,3 s am. and sets
about Pm. In June It rises about 80 in
the morning and sets at 1890. giving about
twenty hours OF daylight and diffuse twt-
light the remainder Of the time.
The mean summer temperature Of the
interior doubtless ranges between 60 and
20 degrees. according to elevation. being
highest In the mtddleI and lower Yukon
Valleys ~ a~
Michael J. Burke's Appointment.
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