XVI. On the relation of the direction of the wind to the age of the moon, as inferred from observations made at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, from 1840 November to 1847 December

Abstract

In the year 1849, in a voyage to Shetland, I heard allusions to the belief entertained generally by Norwegian seamen, that a northerly wind may always be expected about the time of new moon. The expression of this belief was so positive, and the implication of the interests of the persons entertaining it was so distinct, that it ap­peared to me extremely probable that there was some physical foundation for it. At the first convenient opportunity, therefore, I took measures for discussing, with re­ference to this question, the directions of the wind at the Royal Observatory, during a period of rather more than seven years, as ascertained from the records of Osler’s Self-registering Anemometer. I extended the research so far as to enable every reader to judge whether there is any probable relation between any Direction of Wind and any Age of the Moon. The collection and summation of the numbers was effected under the immediate superintendence of Mr. Glaisher. Great pains were taken to establish such checks on the operation that error is almost impossible.