Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems
Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems
GI
Articles | Volume 11, issue 2
Articles | Volume 11, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-11-263-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-11-263-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Articles | Volume 11, issue 2
Research article
 | 
05 Aug 2022
Research article |  | 05 Aug 2022

Measurements of natural airflow within a Stevenson screen and its influence on air temperature and humidity records

Stephen Burt

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Cited articles

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Andersson, T. and Mattison, I.: A field test of thermometer screens, SMHI Report No. RMK 62, Norrkoping, Sweden, https://www.smhi.se/polopoly_fs/1.148394!/RMK_62.pdf (last access: 24 July 2022), 1991. 
Brock, F. V. and Richardson, S. J.: Meteorological Measurement Systems, chapt. 6, Oxford University Press Oxford, 290 pp., https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195134513.001.0001, 2001. 
Bultot, F. and Dupriez, G. L.: Comparaison d'instruments de mesure de l'humidité de l'air sous abri (Comparison of humidity measuring instruments in(side) a shelter), Arch. Meterol. Geophys. Bioklimatol. Wien, 19B, 53–67, 1971. 
Burt, S.: The Weather Observer's Handbook, chap. 5, Cambridge University Press, New York, 444 pp., https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139152167, 2012. 
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Most measurements of air temperature and humidity originate from Stevenson-type thermometer screens, which can produce erroneous measurements in light winds owing to insufficient ventilation of the in-screen sensors. A field experiment to measure airflow within a Stevenson screen found mean airflow to be only 0.2 m s−1, well below the 1 m s−1 minimum normally assumed, and only 7 % of 10 m mean wind speeds. Implications for air temperature and humidity measurement uncertainties are discussed.
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