RayProudfoot wrote:
I imagine many parts of England will have micro-climates especially those near hills (leeward especially - North Wales being a classic example). Sandy soils like Rickmansworth and Bournemouth are notorious frost hollows. That's why it's so much fun having a weather station!
Yes, and the Malvern micro/mini climate is obvious on some days in various ways. Probably the most notable of all occurs on quiet hot humid summer days with an unstable atmosphere. Air rising from the top of the hills results in convergence of air towards the hills from either side, this further enhancing the process & setting off late afternoon/early evening thunderstorms in situ with little warning other than the rapid cloud buildup. These then, once going, expand & drift North Eastward across the West then into the East Midlands ending up towards Nottinghamshire/Lincolnshire. Fun to watch late evening from the top of the hills, that's once they've well vacated their birthplace.
On more than one occasion over the years, I have cancelled pre planned summer evening hill walks I have arranged due to the fact that from mid afternoon on such days, it becomes obvious that it's likely to happen.
This will be my first summer with the VP2 so it's going to be interesting to track the temp/humidity/pressure trends during such an episode if we have any this year and compare it with more distant stations away from such activity. We had a few last year.
RayProudfoot wrote:Likewise here. My hottest day last year was 30.4C (86.7F) on July 2 and Man Airport recorded 28C (82F). But it felt hotter than 28C.
As you know, most official stations are set up in the open to reduce very localised effects. But, the more of the home AWS's that get installed, the more the variation in suburban microclimates across quite small distances will begin to show. All very interesting & if so desired, could even be used to select a house with a back garden with a suitable microclimate going on the data fro any nearby AWS's
RayProudfoot wrote:But is it awkward mowing around the station? Do you knock the rain guage?
Right up around the station mounting pole, I will just use hand shears to trim the grass, especially as there is a grass mininmum temperature sensor lying on the grass at the base of the pole.. That keeps the mower away from it.
RayProudfoot wrote:Is this using StreetView? That is amazing and you can see the anemometer attached to my chimney. I'll have a look along your street.
Yes, it is. If you use it on mine, you'll not see anything re the weatherstation as the photo's were taken before I set it up.
I only set my station up at the start of this year so I only have a couple of months of winter of records so far.