Meteorology of Ben Nevis

Abstract

THE cairn on the top of Ben Nevis marks, as is well known, the highest spot in the British Islands, and when the question of high-level meteorological observations came to be seriously entertained some years ago, attention was drawn to this position as the best afforded in these islands for a first-class meteorological observatory which would form one of the more important members in the network of the high-level stations of the Continent. The advantages of the situation are enhanced by the consideration that the mountain rises directly from the level of the sea to a height of 4406 feet, and that its summit stands from 2000 to 3000 feet clear above the mountain ridge to westward which lies between it and the Atlantic. The mountain thus raises its head in the very midst of the west-south-westerly winds from the Atlantic, which exercise so preponderating an influence on the meteorology of Europe. Among the results from observations made at this elevated situation the more important to be looked for are those which relate to the greater movements of the atmosphere, particularly the upper currents in their relations to the cyclones and anti-cyclones of Europe, the data for the investigation of some of the laws regulating these movements being obtained by a comparison on the one hand of observations made on Ben Nevis with those made at the other high-level stations of Europe, and on the other with those made at lower levels, and published in the different Daily Weather Reports.