On the occurrence of snow‐cover in Great Britain

Abstract

AbstractHitherto practically no information has been forthcoming with regard to the frequency with which a snow‐cover may be expected on the uplands and mountains of Great Britain. Variations with altitude are very great; variations from year to year are also very great; few highland stations are available, while their records are often brief and interrupted. Further, the interpretation, analysis and criticism of the existing data with regard to snow‐lying are difficult, and are only to be undertaken after a close survey of the environment and other features of the reporting stations, of which the majority are on low ground.A relationship has now been derived between the mean temperature of the winter months and the average frequency of occurrence of snow‐lying, which after test appears to be generally applicable to any given place over a period of years. It is necessary, however, to allow for several additional factors, notably quantity of snowfall, which influence the duration if snow‐cover. It appears that, making these allowances, a reasonable estimate can be made of the frequency of snow‐cover a t the majority of places in Great Britain; also, of the extent to which the expectation of snow‐cover varies with small fluctuations in mean winter temperature, over a period.The deductions, with regard to uplands and mountains, should be of general interest to many beside those concerned with questions of transport.In the course of the work upwards of ninety observing stations have been investigated, and the tables of frequency of snow‐lying for eighty‐six of these may also be of value until more rigorous analysis can be undertaken.