2. On the Temperature of the Sea around the Coasts of Scotland during the years 1857 and 1858; and the bearing of the facts on the Gulf-stream Theory

Extract

By a reference to observations made on the temperature of the air, of the sea, and the solid land, the author showed that the mean temperature of each of these in and around Scotland were within the fraction of a degree of each other. From observations made on the temperature of the air and of the sea at stations on the west coast, he showed that not only did the air and sea attain their respective minima and maxima at the same time, but that even in their fluctuations of temperature they bore a distinct accord with each other. He then pointed out that such fluctuations in the temperature of the sea were quite fatal to the theory of the mild winters of Britain being dependent on the influence of the Gulf-stream, as such fluctuations could not occur were the temperature of the sea dependent on the heated waters of the Gulf-stream.