PART II: METEOROLOGY 



10. This section summarizes the meteorological measurements made at the 

 FRF in 1985. A discussion of the data and a comparison with those of previous 

 years are also presented. Appendix B contains hourly wind speed and direction 

 and atmospheric pressure values during storm conditions. 



11. Mean air temperature, atmospheric pressure, and wind speed and 

 direction were computed based on data sampled four times per second for 20 min 

 every 6 hr beginning at or about 0100, 0700, 1300, and 1900 eastern standard 

 time (EST) ; these hours correspond to the time that the National Weather 

 Service (NWS) creates daily synoptic weather maps. During storms, hourly data 

 recordings were made, prior to collection, each gage signal was first ampli- 

 fied and then biased to ensure a 0- to 5-V range. 



Air Temperature 



12. The FRF enjoys a typical marine climate which moderates the ex- 

 tremes of both summer and winter. During the warmest months, July and August, 

 the monthly air temperature averaged nearly 25° C. Lowest air temperatures 

 occur during January, averaging about 5° C. 



Measurement instruments 



13. A Yellow Springs Instrument Company, Inc. (YSI) (Yellow Springs, 

 Ohio) electronic temperature probe with analog output interfaced to the FRF's 

 NOVA-4 computer was operated beside the NWS's meteorological instrument 

 shelter located 43 m behind the dune (Figure 2) . To ensure proper tem- 

 perature readings, the probe was installed 3 m above ground inside a 

 "coolie hat" to shade it from direct sun yet provide proper ventilation. 

 Results 



14. Present year. The average air temperature for the year was 16° C. 

 After a very cold winter, monthly mean for January was only 2.6° C, tempera- 

 tures rose to the mid-twenties during the summer (see Table 2). Autumn 

 temperatures remained mild through November for which the monthly mean was 

 15.9° C. 



15. Present versus past years. In comparison to prior years, the air 

 temperatures for 1985 were very cold during January and February, milder 



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