The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-12-18
Il

Written for the Holiday Bee
The science that treats of the ele-
ments contained in this great aerial
ocean that surrounds the earth, at
the bottom of which animal and plant
| life is matured and perfected; and
| by it's variation of heat and cold. sun
shine, clouds and tempests, material
| ly affects not only the health and
happiness Of mankind but his COM
mercial and industrial welfare as
well. There is no branch of science
| that should receive more thought and
study at the hands of scientists
| than that of climatology: because it
affects everybody and everything;
| the doctor has use for it in the prac-
| tice Of his profession, the manufac-
| turer very frequently is required to
establish his factory where climate
dictates, and the tiller o. the soil
can produce only such crops as are
adapted to localities possessing GER
| tain climatic features.
The climate of Flathead valley diff
| fers materially from other sections
| of the country in the same latitude,
| due to its peculiar topographic feat
ures, the large body of fresh water
which it contains, and the prevail
ing westerly wind. This valley lies
to the west of the main range of the
Rocky mountains, and its principal
topographic features are the high
mountains Immediately adjacent to
the valley on the east, extending
north and south directly in the path
of the prevailing winds; and the
large body of fresh water (Flathead
lake) at the southern extremity of
the valley.
The most important elements COM
pretended by the term climate are,
temperature. precipitation, sunshine
and cloudiness. and the prevailing
wind, its force and dryness. The
temperature or the thermal condition
of the atmosphere indicates the de-
gree of heat which the air cantains
and is one of the most important
climatic elements. The mean annual
temperature as determined from the
records of the United States weather
bureau at Kalispell. Mont. is 4S.S de-
grees, the coolest month is February
with mean temperature Of 23.4 de-
grees. and the warmest is July, 63.7
degrees. May and September have
|
53.4 degrees. and the mean tempera-
ture for the remaining months are:
January. 5S5 degrees: March. 1878
degrees: April, 45.2 degrees; June,
5S.5 degrees; July, 5S.5 degrees; Aug
ust. SIS degrees; October. 42.6 de-
grees: November. 1914 degrees. and
December, 2S7 degrees. 1t is seen
that the three winter months. Decem-
Der. January and February have a
mean temperature below the freez-
ing point of water. The highest tenn
perature recorded at this station is
92.5 degrees, June 1900; and the low
est 10 degrees below zero. February,
1900 The greatest change In tenn
perature during any one day was A
degrees, July 10. 1900. when the NOR
ming temperature registered A de-
grees. and rose to a maximum of IS
during the same afternoon. Abnor-
mally warm and cold spells last as
a rule about three days: the mean of
the three consecutive coolest days
was "A degrees below zero. February
1916. 1900: the mean OF the three
consecutive warmest days was 74.2
degrees. July 1924. 1900. This val
ley is free from sudden and severe
changes in temperature, and the cold
wave is an infreQuent visitor The
variability in the temperature that
is the difference between the mean
temperature and that OF the proceed
ing day shows how small this change
really is and how equable the eli
mate: the mean annual variation is
only 3s degrees. the least occurs in
April. 81 degrees and the greatest
during February. GO degrees: the
mean for the remaining months are
as follows: January. AZ degrees;
March. 3.4 degrees: May, 3.3 degrees:
June. Al degrees; July. 2.S degrees;
August. SO degrees: September and