Did Huntsville have hottest July on record in 2022? (Decatur, Meridianville: airport, station)

[RocketDawg]

Maybe, but maybe not. I've noticed that temperatures at the airport have been significantly higher than neighboring sites (such as Decatur Pryor Field, just a few miles away; and Meridianville on the north side of town) for several years now. Our 30 year running averages have also been considerably warmer for summer and winter for two or three updates, issued every 10 years.

Dr. John Christy (Alabama State Climatologist, from UAH) may have the answer, and it makes sense:

https://yellowhammernews.com/new-inf...cientist-says/

[harry chickpea]

The type of thing has been noted before. At the time, those pointing it out were called climate change deniers. Nice to see that it finally has made it into acceptance by the mainstream.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

The type of thing has been noted before. At the time, those pointing it out were called climate change deniers. Nice to see that it finally has made it into acceptance by the mainstream.

Dr. Christy is one of the few scientists who doesn't agree with global warming, at least not because of human reasons. So he's a bit controversial to his peers.

I don't know where the weather sensors are at the airport, but the place certainly has a lot more concrete and asphalt than it did just a few years ago. Perfect conditions for a heat island. But to me, the difference between other locations such as Belle Mina and Decatur Pryor, both just a few miles away, is significant. Twenty or so years ago the January average temperature was 38.something at HSV; now it's 42.something. A near 4 degree rise is quite significant. July averages are similar but not quite as dramatic. Some of that is climate warming in general, but most is likely due to sensor location as Christy said.

[harry chickpea]

There have been other measurement issues around the country. Back when many of the stations were placed, the country was not only largely agrarian, but the protective boxes were made from certain woods that were whitewashed - which is somewhat porous. Over the years, some of those reporting stations got painted white, which gives a whole different profile of humidity and heat.

Are there real changes that are going on? Look at the spread of fire ants and armadillos and iguanas and the answer to that it apparent. What is needed is accurate and honest reporting, even when it doesn't support current theories.

[RocketDawg]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

There have been other measurement issues around the country. Back when many of the stations were placed, the country was not only largely agrarian, but the protective boxes were made from certain woods that were whitewashed - which is somewhat porous. Over the years, some of those reporting stations got painted white, which gives a whole different profile of humidity and heat.

Are there real changes that are going on? Look at the spread of fire ants and armadillos and iguanas and the answer to that it apparent. What is needed is accurate and honest reporting, even when it doesn't support current theories.

Cotton Region Shelters: https://www.weather.gov/sgx/instruments

[harry chickpea]

That link merely notes that current shelters are painted white.

https://www.nps.gov/articles/limewas...a-good-one.htm

My father used to do readings at a shelter located in Vermont at the radio station where he was chief engineer. I have a fairly clear recollection of that box, him using the sling hygrometer, and writing the log.

IIRC, the roof of the shelter kept normal rainfall from hitting the side slats, but dew could be on the entire box.

He was a stickler for detail, so whatever the specifications were for the box, that is what it was. During that era, the choice to get white would almost certainly be whitewash or lead paint.