The Large Data Set Flashcards
Leuchars Climate and Location
To the west it is sheltered by the Ochill hills but to the east it is exposed to the North Sea. It is the most northerly UK weather station, giving it the lowest average temperature.
Leeming Climate and Location
Situated between the Yorkshire dales to the west and North York moors to the east. The sheltered locations leads to a dry, almost semi-arid climate.
Heathrow Climate and Location
Is sufficiently far from the city centre that temperatures are not raised by the ‘urban heat island’ effect. However, it has below-average rainfall for Britain and its proximity to continental Europe, and southerly latitude, means that it has relatively hotter summer temperatures.
Hurn Climate and Location
Is situated 6km from the south coast of England. The location has rainfall well below the national average.
Camborne Climate and Location
Cornwall has the mildest and sunniest climate in the UK, in places sub-tropical, in part due to its southern location and the warm water carried by the Gulf Stream. The presence of the sea moderates extreme temperatures in both summer and winter. However, extreme rainfall is not uncommon.
Beijing Climate and Location
Beijing lies at north of an alluvial plain that is shielded by mountains to the north and west. It has a ‘humid, continental climate’. Due to the East Asian monsoon, summers are humid, whilst the Siberian anticyclone causes cold, windy but dry winters.
Jacksonville Climate and Location
Jacksonville has a ‘humid subtropical climate’. Since it is a low-lying and on the coast, winters are typically mild and sunny and rarely sub-zero. Summers are usually hot, very humid and prone to thunderstorms and brief, torrential downpours. The high humidity makes high heat indices common in the summer.
Perth Climate and Location
Perth has a ‘hot summer, Mediterranean climate’. Winters are generally cool and wet whilst the summer months are hot, dry, and sunny. Any summer rainfall is usually the result of short-lived thunderstorms or decaying tropical cyclones.
What is Trace ‘tr’
- Rainfall is the only variable with ‘tr’. Trace does not appear overseas
- Trace means values of rainfall less than 0.05mm.
- If using trace in a calculation, standard deviation for example, use 0.025. (The textbook uses 0. This is wrong)
What is Not Available ‘n/a’ and when does it come up
- The only 4 variables to have n/a are: daily total sunshine, daily mean wind speed (and Beaufort conversion) and daily maximum gust
- The four aforementioned variables are all n/a for the first two weeks of May 1987 - this may be relevant in sampling questions.
- N/A does not appear overseas
What Discrete Variables are there (often come up in probability questions)
- Cloud cover (0-8, 9 options)
- Cardinal directions (N, NNE, e.c.t …, 16 options)
What things have happened in October
- October 1987 - all UK locations experienced relatively higher rainfall in comparison to May-September due to the great storm/hurricane
- October 2015 - Perth had warmest October since records began
- October 1987 & 2015 - Beijing significantly colder relative to May-September
What is Total Rainfall measured in
mm
What is Mean Windspeed measured in
- kn/knot is “nautical mile per hour”.
1kn = 1.15mph - Windspeed is also given on the Beaufort Scale
What are the levels of the Beaufort Scale
0 = Calm (<1kn)
1-3 = Light (1-10kn)
4 = Moderate (11-16kn)
5 = Fresh (17-21kn)
*The Beaufort Scale goes beyond 5 (up to 12)
