118 replies to this topic

[AtlanticFlamethrower]

I looked around the forums and none seemed an appropriate place to put this thread.

Since it is related to measurement of temperature, and temperature is a measure of climate change, I figured it was best put here than any where else currently available.

I would encourage contributors to make specific comments on the stations located, and how they may contribute to the study of climate change, and to help locate new ones to provide further examples.

Any other discussion is off-topic. I'll look for some more stations later if everything settles down.

[AtlanticFlamethrower]

I think this is Boscombe Down.
Latitude 51.16667
Longitude -1.75



The nearby airfield doesn't seem to have one and this was close to the coordinates. And this has one of those tower things, the shadow of which, and the radars, you can see in the Google version.



If it is the weather station there, a big if that could only be confirmed by a visit or a "birds-eye view" update to the bingmaps database, or someone that knows who could confirm, not only is there a tower but it's right next to a car park. Lovely.

[AtlanticFlamethrower]

Bracknell
Latitude 51.38333
Longitude -.78333

This station is located in Beaufort Park

As below, this one was tricky to find. We have a choice of built up area, car park, or woodland.



I got a clue from the Bracknell website's webcam below.



So, I think this is it facing North in the trees here, North East of where the "C" flag is in the overhead shot. The car park is 17 meters away from whatever this is.

[AtlanticFlamethrower]

Cranwell (Lincolnshire)
53.0311
-0.5035



Anyone want to guess what that enclosure right next to it is for?

[AtlanticFlamethrower]

Disforth
Latitude 54.13333
Longitude -1.41667



30 meters / 100 feet from green roofed building.


While not ideal, it's one of the most reasonably sited ones I've found as yet. Disforth is, however, well outside the CET area.

[Chris Knight]

AtlanticFlamethrower, on 02 August 2009 - 20:16 , said:

Cranwell (Lincolnshire)
53.0311
-0.5035



Anyone want to guess what that enclosure right next to it is for?

Is it a dunny for sheilas when they have a barby?

[AtlanticFlamethrower]

It was mentioned in the other thread Charlwood had replaced Redhill because the latter always produced colder temperatures than expected. Well, I thought, let's find Charlwood. And I did.

Charlwood
51.15 (actual location further south)
-0.233





On this page we actually have a picture of the Stevenson screen which contains the thermometer.



Yes, it abuts the hedge. Another photo shows a plant growing up the side of the metal cage. Not too cold any more!


If this is Redhill (the one at the tiny airport) its location isn't half bad except for the car park 30 meters away.

51.22
-0.13





Doesn't seem to be anything special about it other than it's exposed - someone tell me it's not Redhill.

[Essan]

AtlanticFlamethrower, on 02 August 2009 - 20:29 , said:

While not ideal, it's one of the most reasonably sited ones I've found as yet. Disforth is, however, well outside the CET area.

Not sure what you mean by that? There are only 3 CET stations: Pershore (Throckmorton Airfield), Rothamsted and Stoneyhurst.

Pershore recently replace Malvern - even though it's a known 'frost hollow' and consistently records lower minima.

[noggin]

Essan, on 03 August 2009 - 06:53 , said:

Not sure what you mean by that? There are only 3 CET stations: Pershore (Throckmorton Airfield), Rothamsted and Stoneyhurst.

I had always assumed that the CET was arrived at by using all of the MetO stations within the CET area. Are you saying that the CET is based on the recordings from just 3 out of lots of stations? I ask because, to me, that would seem inefficient and also the link of mine on page 2 shows that there are lots of stations (MetO site).

Genuine question, BTW,as are all of my questions.

Here is the link again http://www.metoffice...images/map6.gif

Edited by noggin, 03 August 2009 - 07:58 .

[AtlanticFlamethrower]

Essan, on 03 August 2009 - 06:53 , said:

Pershore recently replace Malvern - even though it's a known 'frost hollow' and consistently records lower minima.

It's amazing there are all these notorious "frost hollows" but no HIs.

Here's Pershore BTW which has a number of radiative influences including close by tarmac and the metal cage of the station itself.

[Solar Sausage]

On the other hand noggin, it makes for far easier comparison. It's no longer a case of searching for a needle in a haystack?

[johnholmes]

for those interested in FACT rather than anything else this link will or should provide you with links to all the data
the original Manley work
what stations he used and which subsequent ones were chosen and why, along with other links about the topic of CET and temperature readings.

http://badc.nerc.ac.uk/data/cet/

[AtlanticFlamethrower]

Rothamsted
AL5 2JQ

This is the second Hadley CET station located, after Pershore.


Apart from the metal tower 8 meters from the Stevenson Screen (the white dot) it's a great site.



This photo was taken in the evening. We know that because the shadows are going North-East.So for part of the morning the Stevenson Screen will be in the shade cast by the tower - but this should rarely affect the maxima. The tower itself radiates heat though - if someone parked a lorry 27 feet away it would soon be moved, but a weather tower doesn't seem to raise the same eyebrows.


Wider view

[AtlanticFlamethrower]

I can't find Stonyhurst - it's possible the images on the net are pre-2004.

Take a look at this from Rothamsted. (Tmins).



There is a spike and apparent step change up in min temperature in 1993? compared to those other stations.



Metal absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night. You have to wonder when the tower was put there. Does Rothamsted have its very own radiator?

Edited by AtlanticFlamethrower, 03 August 2009 - 10:47 .

[Solar Sausage]

Doesn't metal radiate its heat somewhat rapidly, AFT? Don't cars ice over long before the ambient air-temperature falls below zero?

But, the chimney-stack hypothesis is interesting: does it mean that all pre-1993 data were anamolously low, due to airborne smuts?

[AtlanticFlamethrower]

Pete Tattum, on 03 August 2009 - 11:03 , said:

Doesn't metal radiate its heat somewhat rapidly, AFT? Don't cars ice over long before the ambient air-temperature falls below zero?

You mean it easily loses what heat it has to the surrounding environment?

Quote

But, the chimney-stack hypothesis is interesting: does it mean that all pre-1993 data were anamolously low, due to airborne smuts?

What is the chimney-stack hypothesis? I've been staring at maps for too long and is a little oblique for me...

[Essan]

If no-one has linked to it yet, an informative paper here:

Uncertainties in Central England Temperature 1878-2003 and some improvements to the maximum and minimum series
(Parker & Horton, 2005)

[AtlanticFlamethrower]

Does the Hadley series now use MMTS electronic thermometers or are they using the old mercury?

[AtlanticFlamethrower]

Essan, sorry, I got this

Quote

The requested URL is unavailable at this time. The following error was reported: Failed to connect to server

Here are two close-ups of the tower that has wandered 8 meters towards the Rothamsted Stevenson screen.

[Solar Sausage]

AtlanticFlamethrower, on 03 August 2009 - 11:23 , said:

You mean it easily loses what heat it has to the surrounding environment?

Yes, I do mean that. But it cannot radiate heat once it is colder than its surroundings - simple thermodynamics?

Quote

What is the chimney-stack hypothesis? I've been staring at maps for too long and is a little oblique for me...

Well, you posted the link AFT. Maybe, you should have read it first?