51.20185 -1.80587 Met Office assessed CIMO Class 4 Installed 1/1/1920
Larkhill is a World Meteorological Organisation reporting site hence its demarcation above. It was established in 1920 since when archived records are held though exactly where its original location actually was is difficult to ascertain. Tim Channon reviewed the site in 2012 concluding it was Class 5…..it has significantly worsened since his report and yet, quite amazingly, the Met Office maintains it is still Class 4.
What has changed since Tim’s rather damning report?
This site is at the Royal Artillery Saddle Club and the 40 metre by 60 metre rectangle now alongside the weather station is their sand school. Not only is this 2,400 square metre area of artificially well drained sand completely unnatural, it also acts as a huge heat sink rapidly heating up and distorting the adjacent readings.
Do meteorologists not recognise this effect of sand on temperature readings? Well……
“according to Gareth Harvey from the BBC Weather Centre……Sand is a natural insulator and so the heating effect of sunshine is stored in the top layer only, which gets very hot and then warms the air.”
Clearly they know the sand school will be a problem plus they are also aware of significant “Astroturf” around the screen. From their archived notes
“DCNN ID 5863: EXPOSURE OF GRASS MIN THERMOMETER ON ARTIFICIAL TURF CORRECTED TO ACCEPTED STANDARD”
Astonishingly the Met Office sees fit to have adopted a standard for “Grass” temperature reading to allow for “artificial turf”. It seems Tim Channon’s views on “improper ground cover” have become irrelevant to the Met Office since. What next – Adjustments for black tarmac runways?
As for the rest of the surrounding area, it is all unnatural with buildings, roadways and car parks in close proximity – in no way does this regularly changing artificial landscape represent the natural environment. How bad are all those Class 5 stations if this is only Class 4?
via Tallbloke’s Talkshop
October 10, 2024 at 03:27AM
Iowa Climate Science Education 