Dawyck Botanic Garden DCNN 1875 – Keep off the Grass!

55.60379 -332322 Met Office CIMO assessed Class 5 installed 1/4/2007

I was unable to get a clear aerial view of this weather station despite numerous different options available – the site was always in such extreme shade it was almost impossible to identify. Quite how the Met Office do not consider this station as Class 5S is difficult to understand. However, there are other much more fundamental problems with this site.

I was recently sent a link to a short you tube video clip entitled “Stevenson Screen – where to (NOT) place them” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHi79lj9a-E Leaving aside the roofing issues made, the most notable point made was the requirement for screens to be located over grass. Firstly the normal close up of Dawyck view which indicates the total absence of any enclosure.

A further close up zooms into the “keep off the grass” issue.

A requirement of temperature readings is that they are taken over grass thus this station’s readings are not acceptable for inclusion in the historic temperature record….no possible debate, a technical knock out.

That the Met Office inspectorate consider such a modern site that is unenclosed, subject to significant shade and not even over an acceptable surface somehow worthy of inclusion in the climate record raises serious questions about their competence and motivation.

This is how a screen should be situated……….according to the Met Office.