The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-11-18
WEATHER MANS
VOLCANO OPINIONS
TERRITORIAL METEOROLOGICAL
DISCUSSES THE PHENOMENA OF
THE OUTBREAK or MAUNA LoA

In his report Of the metoorology FOR
the month OF October Territorial Me-
teorologist Is. G.. Lydecker SAYS:
The principal features Of the month
were the eruption of Mauna Ioa. the
heavy electric storm on Maui and La
mai and the low average tcmpera ture.
Smoke was first observed issuing from
the crater of Mauna L~l tMokuaweo-
weo) at l2;45 p. m. on the 9Th. and ac-
tiNity has continued up TO the present
time. At the close of the month the
lava lake was reported to have risen
to within 700 feet of the crater's rim
but as this is an eye estimate due al
lowance must be made: the best
authority gives an estimated rise Of the
lava as from % to 30 feet aove the
floor Of the crater. which. when the
volcano was not in an active state. was
500 feet below the crater's summit.
This crater is oblOng i'm shape being 81
miles long and LA miles i'm width. The
mountain has thus far withstood the
pressure from within, and no outbreak
from its sides has occurred. hence no
flow of lava. In connection with this
eruption the report of Captain Coath OF
the British ship Ormsary is of more
than passing interest. Captain Coath
reports having experienced a remark
able disturbance of the sea lasting from
the afternoon of the 9Th to the morn
ing of the 9th, currents and high cross
seas in every direction, the vessel max
ing no Roadway and unmanageable,
Mauna Loa bearing Z. s. r.. distant
about so miles. on the afternoon Of the
9Th the activity of the volcano was no
ticed from the ship. There are no re-
ports of earthquakes previous to the
outbreak which occurred without
warning and an interesting question
arises as to whether this disturbed con-
dition of the sea was the result of a
cause, or an effect of volcanic activity.
The electric storm on Maui began on
the afternoon of the 14th, and lasted
until the morning of the 18th. being
most severe during the night, consider
able damage was done by lightning
both on this island and Lanai which
also experienced the same storm.
The mean temperature for the month,
751 degrees is the lowest October mean
with one exception C74.7 in 1890 on re-
cord during twenty-one years observa-
lions at the Weather Bureau. and is
IL degrees below the normal for that
month. The mean relative humidity
was 3.4 above the normal. Dew eight
mornings. Bright glow on the morn
ing of the 18th. Smoke haze on S. f.
horizon 10Th. Distant thunder from
S. r. a. m. and p. m 14th, and lightning
during the night, the latter also re-
ported from Hilo to the n. w. electric
storm of 18th and 18th on Maui and
Lanai) Thunder morning of the 18th
Reports from other stations: Hilo,
earthquake Cos a. m. on the I'd; light
ming to n. W. on the evening of the
14th; heavy thunder shower on the 10th
Kohala, Hawaii, "Kona" (wind from
49, - L.
winds on all other days of the month.
PepeeSec Hawaii, winds east and east
northeast 10 days, other days from
north to northeast; average force 1.3;
heavy surf 4th to 18th inclusive, also
2Sth and Goth; distant lightning 18TH;
lunar halo same date, volcanic smoke
all day, the latter on the oath also;
thunder storm from l p. m. to Z p. M.
18TH with distant lightning evening;
fine morning and after glows numerous
during the month, with more or less re-
Election from volcano a night: edw :
mornings. Waimea, Hawaii, fresh
and strong n. r. winds first and last
portions of month with gale on the Sth
and 9th, Gains and light winds 10th to
21st. Naalehu, Hawaii, trade winds
26 days; medium earthquake on the 18th
at 2:45 p. m. eruption of Mauna Loa
first observed about p. m. 9th. Vol
cano House reports very dry month.
Temperature mean for the month,
m751; normal. 1872; average daily max
imum, S0.4; average daily minimum,
1913; mean daily range, 10.1; greatest
daily range. 10 degrees Q2th); least
daily range, 4 degrees OATH; highest
temperature, SO (severaD; lowest tenn
perature, 81 G2th)
Barometer average, 29972; normal,
! !, ioha ct
/ 1912 Q4th); greatest 24-hour change,
that is from any given hour of one day
to the same hour on the next, 10 Q2th
to 13th) Flows" passed this point, 18th
to 10th inclusive and GOTH highs, list
to 3D. 7th to 9th and Goth to 31st in
/ elusive.
Relative humidity average, 1873; nor
NAL, 705; mean dew point, $3.50; normal,
/ &c; mean absolute moisture, 6S7 grains
per cubic foot; normal, 7.06.
Rainfall. 2.17 inches; normal, 2.76;
rain record days, II; normal. 20; great
! est rainfall in one day. 0.56 inches
/ (from 9 a. m. 22d to a. m. 2Sd); total
/ at Luakaha. 1923; normal, ll.69; at Ka-
/ piolani Park, 0.72; normal 112.
! The artesian well level rose during
I the month from 1910 to 49, 80 feet
| above mean sea level October 31st
/ 1902 it stood at 1895. The average
daily mean sea level for the month was
9.94, the assumed annual mean being 10
feet above datum. For Octobei 1902 II
was 1905.
Trade wind days, % Zone OF N. n
/ E); normal, %; average force of wind
during daylight Beaufort scale, %;
average cloudiness, tenths of sky, 4.9;
normal, 4.3.
Approximate percentages of district
rainfall as compared with normal; Ha-
wall; Hilo district, SO per cent; Ha-
makua, 1876; KOhala, 1903; Waimea, SO;
Kona, 20; Kau, 90; Puma, %; Island of
Mani, variable from 1877 at Puuomalei
to $50 per cent at Wailuku; Oahu, so;
! Southeast Kauai, 81; North and West
Kauai 1877.
The heaviest 24-hour rainfalls We're
! at Hllo, 3.99, 5th; Nahiku, Maui, 5.Si
! 25th and Waiakea, Hawaii, 5.S5 inches
5th. The heaviest monthly rainfall re-
ported was at Laupahoehoe, Hawaii