Effect of Observation Time on Mean Temperature Estimation

Abstract

The increased interest and application of heating degree days (HDD) and growing degree days (GDD) prompted this study into the effect of different observation times upon the mean daily temperature. The study was based upon three years of hourly air temperatures measured at St. Paul. These data were used to calculate 1) a true daily mean, 2) a mean of the maximum and minimum between successive midnights as observed at first order stations, and 3) a mean of the maximum and minimum observed at all other hours of the day to simulate cooperative station means. Comparisons of the annual and monthly mean temperatures showed deviations can be of such magnitude as to discourage comparison of station temperatures and temperature-derived quantities such as HDD and GDD unless observation times are the same or corrections are applied.