August 2008 sunshine - historical context
On 31 Aug, 12:25, "Philip Eden" philipATweatherHYPHENukDOTcom wrote:
Hi Philip, what was the E&W sunshine total for August 1968?
I have a figure of just 93.2hr for Coventry, but that was before my
time, so I thought I would check it out with you.
We also have low figures of 106.2hr in 1957, 110.7hr in 1956, both
below what is likely to be this year's August total.
August 1968 was also the dullest August on Reading's continuous
records, 1938 to date various sites, with 116.9 h at the University
(the current site). Earlier records for Leighton Park School, within
300 m of the current University site, covering the period 1908-19
showed 110.7 h in August 1912. My total this month is still 4 hours
below that value, but with a different sensor and about 10 km distant.
But back to August 1968. Monthly totals, from MWR, Coventry area:
Coventry 97.0 h *
Edgbaston 118.1
Luddington 127.7 h
S-upon-Avon 110.7 h
Elmdon 118.1 h
Shipston-upon-Stour 127.7 h
Wellesbourne 114.1
Moreton Morrell 122.8 h
Newtown Linford, Leics 108.8 h
Oxford 124.0 h
(My, how many climat stations there were 40 years ago ... !)
* The monthly mean, 3.13 h/day, is in brackets indicating some
adjustment has been made to the record - perhaps some days were
missing? Wellesbourne's figure is also bracketed. But to me the
Coventry figure looks to be a tad on the low side compared with its
neighbours, and a figure of 115-120 h also appears the more likely
from the mapped values in the MWR.
HTH.
--
Stephen Burt
Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire
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