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Diurnal temperature asymmetries and fog at Churchill, Manitoba

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Abstract

A variety of methods are available to calculate daily mean temperature. We explore how the difference between two commonly used methods provides insight into the local climate of Churchill, Manitoba. In particular, we found that these differences related closely to seasonal fog. A strong statistically significant correlation was found between the fog frequency (hours per day) and the diurnal temperature asymmetries of the surface temperature using the difference between the min/max and 24-h methods of daily temperature calculation. The relationship was particularly strong for winter, spring and summer. Autumn appears to experience the joint effect of fog formation and the radiative effect of snow cover. The results of this study suggests that subtle variations of diurnality of temperature, as measured in the difference of the two mean temperature methods of calculation, may be used as a proxy for fog detection in the Hudson Bay region. These results also provide a cautionary note for the spatial analysis of mean temperatures using data derived from the two different methods particularly in areas that are fog prone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, M1C 1A4, Canada

    William A. Gough & Dianze He

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  1. William A. Gough
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  2. Dianze He
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Correspondence to William A. Gough.

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Gough, W.A., He, D. Diurnal temperature asymmetries and fog at Churchill, Manitoba. Theor Appl Climatol 121, 113–119 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-014-1227-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-014-1227-7

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