On the temperature of the surface waters of the Irish sea

Abstract

Shortly after the year 1870, regular observation of the temperature of the surface waters of the Irish Sea was instituted from a number of coastal stations, lighthouses, and lightvessels by the Meteorological Committee of the Royal Society with the co-operation of the Lighthouse Boards. At first the observations were taken once daily at noon, but from about 1880, when coast guard stations were included, all observations were taken twice daily, viz., “ at or about sunrise ” and at 4 p.m. The observations were collected by the Meteorological Office, and the service has been maintained up to the present time, though most of the lightvessels on the eastern side of the sea have now been removed. The thermometers used are of the standard M.O. pattern and are read to 1° F.