Measuring the weather at Saxmundham
Saxmundham monthly meteorological data available from e-RA
Monthly meteorological data recorded at Saxmundham, Suffolk, from 1966-1985. Based on daily observations (not available). The 1966 and 1967 summaries are taken from the Rothamsted Annual Reports; subsequent years are from the 'Numerical Results' or the "Yields of the Field Experiments' for 1968 - 1985.
Available as Open Access data: Rothamsted Research (2019). Saxmundham monthly meteorological data summaries 1966-1985. Electronic Rothamsted Archive https://doi.org/10.23637/Sax-1928223556-01
| Variable | Units | Description | When recorded | Method of measurement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Temperature |
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| AIR TEMP | °C | Mean monthly air temperature, mean of maximum and minimum air temperature | Jan 1966-Dec 1985 | Recorded using a mercury-in-glass sheathed column maximum thermometer and a spirit-in-glass with indicator bar minimum thermometer, both housed in a naturally aspirating temperature screen. |
| DEW POINT | °C | Mean dew point | Jan 1968-Dec 1985 | Derived from wet and dry bulb temperature, recorded at 0900GMT. Measured with mercury-in-glass column thermometers, the wet bulb thermometer with a bulb covered by a cotton wick kept moist from a water reservoir. Both thermometers housed in a naturally aspirating temperature screen. |
| S30T | °C | Mean monthly soil temperature under bare soil at 30cm | Jan 1967-Dec 1985 | Recorded at 0900GMT, using a specially adapted thermometer set at 30cm under bare soil. |
| GROUND FROSTS | days/month | Total nights per month when grass minimum temperature was below 0 °C | Jan 1968-Dec 1985 | Grass minimum temperature recorded using a spirit-in-glass with indicator bar minimum thermometer, with cotton sleeve and anti-condensation shield on upper part of the instrument. |
Rainfall |
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| RAIN | mm/month | Total monthly rainfall | Jan 1966-Dec 1985 | Measured at 0900GMT, recorded in a 5 inch (12.7cm) diameter rain gauge, including all precipitation (snow, rain, mist and fog). |
| RAIN DAYS | mm/month | Total days per month when rainfall was 0.2mm or more | Jan 1966-Dec 1985 | |
Radiation |
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| RAD | MJ/m2/day | Mean solar radiation | Jan 1967-Dec 1985 | Measured on a solarimeter Jan-Dec, 1967; by a radiometer built at Rothamsted up to 1972, then a Kipps Solarimeter from 1975. No data Dec 1972-Dec 1974. |
Wind |
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| WINDSP | km/hour | Mean monthly wind speed (at 2m) | Jan 1967-Dec 1985 | Measured by a cup anemometer at 2m, total daily windrun (km/day) divided by 24 to give km/hour. No data May-June 1984 as anemometer failed. |
Other |
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| EVAP | mm/month | Total monthly open water evaporation | Apr 1967-Nov 1985 | Evaporation is the mean of measurements of water loss from two open water tanks installed (refilled) in the spring of each year. They are 56 cm diameter, 30 cm deep and set 15cm deep in the ground. Water level is about 6cm below the rim. Spring, summer and autumn months only. |
Key References
1968
- Cooke, G.W.(1968) "The Saxmundham Experiments. Weather", Rothamsted Experimental Station Report for 1967 , , 235-237
DOI: 10.23637/ERADOC-1-120
1967
- Cooke, G.W.(1967) "The Saxmundham Experiments. Weather and cultivations", Rothamsted Experimental Station Report for 1966 , , 248
DOI: 10.23637/ERADOC-1-14
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For further information and assistance, please contact the e-RA curators, Sarah Perryman and Margaret Glendining using the e-RA email address: era@rothamsted.ac.uk