Record

RefNoPP/5/1/1
Previous numbersPP/37/1
LevelItem
TitleManuscript, 'On the connexion of the Himalaya snowfall with dry winds and seasons of drought in India' by Henry F [Francis] Blanford
Date1844
DescriptionBlanford writes: 'The present paper, as regards its subject-matter though not in form, is part of a general investigation of the rainfall of India, which has occupied much of my spare time for some years past, and the results of which are already partly embodied in a memoir which I hope, in the course of a few months, to issue as an official publication of the Indian Meteorological Office. The idea that the snowfall of the Himalaya exercises a direct and important influence on the dry land winds of North-Western India is not now put forward for the first time. It has been the subject of frequent reference in the annual reports on the meteorology of India since 1876, as well as elsewhere; and in a report on the administration of the India Meteorological Department lately issued, I summarised very briefly those points in the experience of the previous five years which have seemed to justify its provisional adoption as a basis for forecasting the probable character of the monsoon rains. Relying on this experience, in the month of June last, I put forward in the Government Gazette, a note giving warning of the probability of a prolonged period of drought in the approaching monsoon season, and the result, if not in exact accordance with the terms of the forecast, has been so far confirmatory of the general idea, as to induce me to put the facts of past experience formally on record, and thereby challenge attention to the subject. If I am right in the inference that the varying extent and thickness of the Himalayan snows exercise a great and prolonged influence on the climatic conditions and weather of the plains of North-Western India, it is probable, that with more or less modification according to the local geography, causes of a similar character will be found equally operative in other regions, and perhaps on an even more extensive scale.'

Annotations in pencil and ink. Includes a map of a baric and wind chart for 10am on 26 February 1881.

Subject: Meteorology

Received 14 April 1884. Read 1 May 1884.

A version of this paper was published in volume 37 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'On the connexion of the Himalaya snowfall with dry winds and seasons of drought in India'.
Extent48p
FormatManuscript
PhysicalDescriptionInk and graphite pencil on paper
Digital imagesView item on Science in the Making
AccessStatusOpen
RelatedMaterialDOI: 10.1098/rspl.1884.0003
Fellows associated with this archive
CodePersonNameDates
NA6497Blanford; Henry Francis (1834 - 1893)1834 - 1893
Add to My Items

    Collection highlights

    Browse the records of some of our collections, which cover all branches of science and date from the 12th century onwards. These include the published works of Fellows of the Royal Society, personal papers of eminent scientists, letters and manuscripts sent to the Society or presented at meetings, and administrative records documenting the Society's activities since our foundation in 1660.

    The Royal Society

    The Royal Society is a Fellowship of many of
    the world's most eminent scientists and is the
    oldest scientific academy in continuous existence.
    Registered charity number 207043

    Website design ©CalmView



    CONTACT US

    + 44 207 451 2500
    (Lines open Mon-Fri, 9:00-17:00. Excludes bank holidays)

    6-9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG

    Email Us →

    SUBSCRIBE

    Subscribe to our newsletters to be updated with the
    latest news on innovation, events, articles and reports.

    Subscribe →

    © CalmView