the temperature did not go below the freezing-point of mercury
(-89deg. C.). But the toluene thermometers in use were old and good
instruments, so that the observations for this period may also be
regarded as perfectly reliable. Of course, all the thermometers had
been carefully examined at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute, and
at Framheim the freezing-point was regularly tested in melting snow.

The results show that the winter on the Barrier was about 19.deg.
C. (21.6deg. F.) colder than it usually is in McMurdo Sound, where
the British expeditions winter. The coldest month is August, with a
mean temperature of -44.5deg. C. (-48.1deg. F.); on fourteen days during
this month the temperature was below -50deg. C. (-58deg. F.). The lowest
temperature occurred on August 13: -58.5deg. C. (-73.3deg. F.); the warmest
day in that month had a temperature of -24deg. C. (-11.2deg. F.).

In October spring begins to approach, and in December the temperature
culminates with a mean for the month of -6.6deg. C. (+2O.ldeg. F.), and a
highest maximum temperature of -0.2deg. C. (+31.6deg. F.). The temperature
was thus never above freezing-point, even in the warmest part of
the summer.

The daily course of the temperature -- warmest at noon and coldest
towards morning -- is, of course, not noticeable in winter, as the
sun is always below the horizon. But in April there is a sign of it,
and from September onward it is fairly marked, although the difference
between 2 p.m. and the mean of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. only amounts to 2deg.
C. in the monthly mean.

Humidity of the Air.