On Jan 20, 2:46 pm, Martin
wrote:
Is there a word (or short phrase) that explicitly covers the
situation
we seem to have had many times this winter in this neck of the woods
of 'upside-down' 24hr temperature profiles.
By that I mean the *maximum* in the standard (09-09Z) period occurs
overnight, and the minimum in the same period is often at the
*start* of the 24hr (09Z).
[and]
On 20/01/2012 17:57, Dick wrote:
I think I would just call it an 'inverse diurnal', Martin, although,
like you, I am unaware of any generally accepted term.

Dick Lovett
Charlbury (Oxfordshire Cotswolds) 122m

.... yes, thanks Dick - that was I admit my first thought; I realised
'inverse' would probably come into it, but was trying to avoid 'diurnal'
: we meteorologists use the word as a short hand for low temps
overnight/higher temps daytime, but the strict definition of 'diurnal'
is (COD) ... " of the day, not nocturnal (Astron); occupying one day;
daily, of each day (Zool) active in daytime .... (etc), which isn't
really specific enough for *our* idea of the 'average' temperature curve.

It would then mean that we'd have to add 'average' or 'normal' before
'diurnal', so we'd then be getting something like 'inverse average
diurnal' which is getting long-winded.

Could use 'atypical' of course, but that again isn't specific enough;
many 24hr temperature curves are non-typical, yet don't always meet the
specific criteria as above.

It's more than just an academic exercise: the number of instances of 'X'
(whatever its called) is related to the departure of the 12hr average
extremes from the 24hr average extremes. For example, this month
(January) using Hurn data, the current 24hr average minimum is 2.9
against 4.0 for the 18-06 mean & the 24hr average maximum is 10.9 vs.
10.4 for the 06-18Z. We've now had 9 such events so far this month.

In a more 'typical' month, with no, or just one or two, events then the
difference is close to zero, and not usually more than 0.2degC.

Martin.






--
West Moors / East Dorset
Lat: 50deg 49.25'N, Long: 01deg 53.05'W
Height (amsl): 17 m (56 feet)
COL category: C1 overall