Richard Griffith wrote:
One of the elements I record on a daily basis is the State of Ground.
Looking in the MO Observers Handbook it states " The scales for the state of
ground take no notice of hoar frost or dew - When these conditions are
observed, the state of ground should be determined independently as if they
were absent"

However looking at the codes for State of Ground without snow or measurable
ice cover - 4 = SURFACE of Ground frozen

So when does this code apply ? Due to the hard frost here this morning the
SURFACE of the Ground was as hard as a rock, therefore am I correct in
recording the State of Ground for this (and other frosty mornings) as 1 =
Moist ? At least until we get some snow / ice cover....

Regards

Richard

Hi, Richard,

Should be without snow, code 4

For no snow cover days, Codes 0, 1, 2 and 4 apply to a bare earth
patch, roughly 2 metres x 2 metres and the rest are for a
representative area around your site.

For days with snow cover, the bare patch is not used, just a
representative area.

HTH

Ken Cook, Copley 253 metres asl, nr Barnard Castle, County Durham
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/copley