How not to measure temperature, part37

The National Weather Service office in San Diego, CA operates a cooperative observer network of weather stations, as do all NWS offices. The station in Coronado, CA, is particularly interesting since it is located on the roof of the Fire Station there.

Given that the MMTS sensor shown below is only about 2 feet above the tar and pea gravel roof, which is known to be a hot environment during the day, and a source for re-radiated heat at night, you have to wonder: “What were they thinking?”

Photo Image

Photo from NWS San Diego, click photo for larger image

The NOAA’s credit, this station is not part of the USHCN climate station network, but still, of what possible value could an air temperature measurement just 2 feet off the rooftop be to anyone?

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BarryW
November 26, 2007 7:20 pm

It looks like it’s siting on a metal plate!?

Jeff
November 26, 2007 9:47 pm

Are you kidding? This is of immense importance to all San Diego roofers!

November 27, 2007 11:23 am

It looks to me like it’s attached to a length of I beam.
(darn sans serif fonts! That’s supposed to be an I (sounds like “eye”), but it looks like an l (sounds like “ell” *L*)

r. chamness
November 27, 2007 12:22 pm

It should tell how hot the roof is but beyond that….
As the sandwich place says, “Um..Um..Um…Toasty!”.

Evan Jones
Editor
November 28, 2007 7:42 pm

Up on the Roof, Under the Boardwalk, Paved Paradise, what will they think of next?

August 23, 2008 8:51 pm

[…] Photo from NWS San Diego, showing MMTS sensor click photo for larger image – full story here […]