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CLIMATE.
39
In the north of Lappland winter lasts no less than seven months, viz., from
October to May, whereas in South Sweden and the island of Gottland its
length is not more than 2 1/i months. In Stockholm, winter begins on
November 26, spring on March 27, summer on May 23 and autumn on
September 24. Spring and autumn thus last two months each; summer and winter
four each. The island of Gottland is distinguished by the great length of its
autumn, winter not beginning there before January 1, which is later than at
any other place in the country. The spring of the island in question, too, lasts
long, and yields only slowly to summer. These peculiarities of climate are due,
of course, to the influence of the Baltic. An inspection of the table shows that
the same phenomenon, although less markedly, exists at other places on the sea
coast in Sweden.
The length of the period free from night-frosts is of great importance for
vegetation. The early night-frosts at the end of summer are the most dangerous
enemies of the farmer in several Swedish provinces, especially in Norrland. At
Karesuando, the last spring-frost comes, on an average, on June 15, and the first
autumn-frost on August 27, there being, consequently, only 72 days free from
frost. In the environs of Stockholm, on the other hand, 4 V2 months are free
from frost, and in the island of Yen, in the Sound, no less than 6 months are
characterized by an absence of frost. Also in this respect then, the climate
shows itself, as a rule, to be more favourable the farther south one goes, the
period free from night-frosts growing longer and longer. There are some
remarkable exceptions, however. Not only Sveg in Härjedalen, which is so cold,
but also Skeppsholmen (57’ 51’ N. Lat.; 13° 39’ Long. E. from Gr.), in the south
of Älvsborg Län, has a shorter frost-free period than northern Lappland, that at
Sveg lasting from June 15 to August 13, or only 58 days, and that at
Skeppsholmen from June 20 to August 25, i. e., no more than 65 days. In both these
places night-frosts are not uncommon in July, a month which, even at
Karesuando and Jokkmokk, is, as a rule, free from frost. The reason why the far
north of the country is comparatively free from frost during the middle of
summer is undoubtedly the fact of the nights there being so short at that period.
In the preceding calculations "frost" has been taken to denote the falling of the
minimum thermometer to, or below, 0° C. (freezing point). But the
observations made show that night-frosts, as a rule, do not cause any damage worth
mentioning before the minimum thermometer has reached — 1°, in which
connection it should also be noted that, in consequence of radiation during the
night, the ground is, as a rule, cooled to a greater degree than is the
thermometer, which is placed at least one meter above the ground and is protected
against radiation by means of , a kind of roof.
Generally speaking, it may be said that the climate of Sweden lies
midway between the continental and the maritime types. The climate of the
northern part of the country, however, has a greater resemblance to the
former type and that of the southern provinces to the latter. The
difference between the winter and summer temperatures in Sweden is much
greater than in Western Europe, but much less than in the interior
of Russia or in Siberia. The absolute summer maximum amounts to
30° C. for most years and stations, whereas the absolute winter
minimum falls to —15° or —20° C. in the south, and to —30° or —40° C.
in the north of Sweden. In the neighbourhood of "the centres of cold",
it is not rare that mercury freezes, and the alcohol thermometer has been
observed to fall to nearly — 50° C. It may be seen, however, from the
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