Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1897-10-30
Climate of Alaska.
tBv Prof. Willis L. Moore, chief OF wea-
Their bureau.)

the sea, ana Iille Is HOb ShoheN' "
we consider the vast extent OF shore line
tower $4,000 miles, possessed by tha'
territory. The climates OF the coast anc
the interior are unlike in many respects
and the differences are intensified IN this
as perhaps in few other countries by eH
ceptional physical conditions. The nat
ural contrast between land and sea is
here tremendously increased by the cur
rent of warm water that impinges on the
coast of British Columbia, one branch
flowing northward toward Sitka, and
thence westward to the kadiak and
Shumagin islands, The fringe OF islands
that separates the mainland from the
Pacific ocean from Dixon Sound north
ward. and also a strip of the mainland
for possibly twenty miles back from the
sea, following the sweep Of the coast as
il curves to the northwestward to the
western extremity of Alaska, form dis
tinct climatic division which may be
termed temperate Alaska.
The temperature rarely falls to zero ;
winter does not set in until about De
cember LIST, and by the last OF May the
snow has disappeared except on the
mountains. The mean winter temper
allure of 81 gla is 325 degrees, but little
less than that OF Washington, d. e..
While Sitia is fully exposed to the sea
influence, places farther inland, but not
over the Coast Range OF mountains, as
killsuoo and juneau, have also mild
temperature throughout the winter
months. The temperature changes from
month to month in temperate Alaska
are small, not exceeding 20 degrees from
midwinter to midsummer. The average
temperature OF July, the warmest month
OF summer, rarely reaches 81 degrees,
and the highest temperature for single
day seldom reaches 70 degrees.
The rainfall OF temperate Alaska is
notorious the world over not only as re-
CARDS the quantity that falls, but also as
to the manner OF its falling, viz: in long
and incessant rains and driz2lcs. CIouCs
and Jog naturally abound, there being
on an average but sixtysix clear days in
the year.
Alaska is land of striking contrasts.
both in climate as well as topography.
When the sun shines, the atmosphere
is remarkably clear, the scenic effects
are magnificent, all nature seems to be
in holiday attire. But the scene may
change very quickly; the sky becomes
overcast, the winds increase in force,
rain begins to fail, the evergreens sigh
olninously, and utter desoation and lone
llness prevail.
North OF the Aleutian Islands, the
coast climate becomes more rigorous in
winter, but IN summer the difference is
much less marked. Thus, at ST. Mich
ael's, short distance above the mouth
OF the Yukon river, the mean summer
temperature is 90 degrees, but degrees
cooler than Sitka.
The mean summer temperature OF
Point Barrow, the most horthealy point
in the United States, is 6.S degrees. but
four-tenths OF degree less than the tenn
perature of the air flowing across the
summit o, Pixies Teak, Colorado. The
rainfall OF the coast region north of the
Yukon Delta is small, diminishing to less
than ten inches within the Arctic Circle.
Tie climate OF the interior, including
in that designation practically all OF the
country, except a narrow fringe OF coastal
margin and the territory before referred
to as temperate Alaska, is one of ex-
treme rigor in winter, with a brief but
relatively hot summer, especially when
The sky is free from clouds. lu,the KIon-
dixie region, in midMinter the sun rises
from $3.50 to 1880 a. m. and sets from
200 to 800 p. m, the total length OF
daylight being about four hours. Re.
men bering that the sun rises but few
degrees above the horizon, and that il is
wholly obscured on great many DAYS.
tho. character OF the winter months cas-
lily may be imagined.
We are indebted to the United States
Coast and tieodetic Survey for series cf
six months observations on the Yukon
River, not far from the site OF the prcs-
en-. gold discoveries. The observations
were made with standard instruments
and are wholly reliable. The daily mean
temperature fell and remained below
the freezing point b de reasl from No.
Yembor i, 1889, TO April 2l, 1890 thus
giving l66 days as the length OF the
closed season lS2290 assuming that out.
door occupations are controlled by tenn
peraturp only bpinU o,.,,a,,Jol ~