Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I prefer less clouds in all months of the year, so I voted for all options. How is Atlanta and New Orleans so cloudy in July? I think this shows that percent sun and average cloud cover are two different things. Whilst San Francisco is cloudier than Los Angeles, it is almost as sunny if that makes sense when comparing downtown stations. In Los Angeles, sunshine and blue skies are common whereas San Francisco has sunshine and scattered clouds.
Atlanta has 15% sunshine in July ???? Is this Chonqing or what ?
Sunshine and cloud cover stats are two different things. 63% of average daylight hours are sunny in July, but on average there is 85% cloud cover. Possible, but still hard to believe. We also do not know what time of day the measurements are made. Atlanta could be cloudier at night.
Sunshine and cloud cover stats are two different things. 63% of average daylight hours are sunny in July, but on average there is 85% cloud cover. Possible, but still hard to believe. We also do not know what time of day the measurements are made. Atlanta could be cloudier at night.
so it means that the sky is usually partly cloudy ?
so it means that the sky is usually partly cloudy ?
It means alot of the time, clouds do not block the sun. It can be sunny with 90% cloud cover and cloudy with 10% cloud cover, because it depends on the position of the clouds in the sky and whether they block the tiny disc of the sun. Or cloud cover is measured at night when there is more clouds. Or the stats are wrong, as these are not as reliable as the percent sun stats. Just look at these pictures:
Both of these scenes are actually quite common at least where I live, particularly sunshine with high cloud cover. The first photo, which is cloudy with only a low amount of cloud cover lasted for around 30 minutes, and is even more extreme as the sun's position is where the thinnest bit of cloud is. The sun only came out because of the Earth's rotation, the cloud didn't move. Sunshine doesn't normally last long with high cloud cover though, and these scenes only normally happen near sunrise/sunset.
Last edited by Randomguy1234; 01-25-2018 at 11:38 AM..
It means alot of the time, clouds do not block the sun. It can be sunny with 90% cloud cover and cloudy with 10% cloud cover, because it depends on the position of the clouds in the sky and whether they block the tiny disc of the sun. Or cloud cover is measured at night when there is more clouds. Or the stats are wrong, as these are not as reliable as the percent sun stats. Just look at these pictures:.
Just think about what has to be done to get accurate stat on clouds and sun. Someone has to physically be looking at the sky every minute or hour and writing down their interpretation of coverage. Not gonna happen.
NWS has machines they use to figure out if the day was clear, cloudy or partly cloudy. Even that is wrong.
Then you have the Satellites. Maybe now with the GOES16 we'll have even better data in thr future.
Feel free to reply and ask Josh your question. He's a nice guy and will reply.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
