Weather Forecaster: "It's 20% Colder This Past Month" -- WHAAAT?

Free Republic ^ | 12/23/05 | self

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Simple. Let's say that the average temperature for December 2004 was 32 degrees Farenheit. (add the temps for all 31 days and divide by 31)
If the average temperature for December 2005 (so far) is 25.6 degrees F...that's 20% colder.

Am I missing something?

[OrioleFan]

Al looks like he's had a little too much Häagen-Dazs

I think he gets Ben & Jerrys for free.

[Dan Evans]

Heat is an energy flow from two objects of different temperatures.

Only if you use the word as a verb, as in "heat up a pot of water'.

As a noun the term enthalpy (symbolized H, also called heat content) is the sum of the internal energy of matter and the product of its volume multiplied by the pressure.

[wolfcreek]

In central Texas; 32 to 70 on Christmas day. We can open presents while it's cold and play outside in the afternoon. Perfect!

[KarinG1]

There is actually no such thing as cold. There is heat and a lack of it. I had to take physics as part of my rounded curriculum in college.

[SoftballMominVA]

My gas bill just came--The average temp last Dec was 48.5 F. This winter the average temp is 40F. So here in Northern VA we are about 16% colder than last December.

[operation clinton cleanup]

WOW! FR really is a living, breathing encyclopedia!

[beyond the sea]

stuck on stupid --------- either go to DU or see post # 39 for the FReeper real answer reality!

:-)

Merry Christmas to you......... hey, one question....publik skool you had attended, eh?

[beyond the sea]

There is no such thing as cold

You are right. It's really not cold until you can't feel a thing for a few minutes.

;-)

Then........ it's COLD!

;-)

I work outside in very cold weather in the winter repairing fences. It's hard on your fingers especially. I always tell my workers, "let me know when you can't feel anything." If so, "Stop............. and stick your fingers in your mouth or between your legs."

Damn .... there's a Clinton joke there somewhere.

;-)

[beyond the sea]

Am I missing something

Yes

;-)

post # 39

[beyond the sea]

Yes............ain't it so cool!

[DKM]

I believe your formula is correct in how they came up with the percentage change. The difference in the two monthly averages, divided by one monthly value or the other, depending on the point of reference, gives you a unitless decimal number, i.e. a percentage change.

(29 - 39) deg. F/ 39 deg. F = -0.256 = -25.6%

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

stuck on stupid --------- either go to DU or see post # 39 for the FReeper real answer reality!

You must be one of those high performance Freepers.
You go from zero to rude in under 4 seconds.

And yes...I did attend a public school. Yet, education aside, I'll put my manners up against yours anyday.

BTW, I didn't intimate that the information I gave you was correct...only that it answered your question:
"How in the world does anyone determine that 'this December is 20% colder than last December'?"

The information I provided you is the way the idiots at the TV weather departments do it.

Forgive me if this response seems a bit edgy...but I don't take kindly to being insulted. Even if it is dressed up with a smiley.    =;^)
Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

[carlr]

I beg to differ,when reporting year over year gains or losses on fund shares or daily gains or losses on stock shares it is based on the figure at the start of the comparison.

When a stock is up or down a certain percent it is a measurement from yesterdays closing price.

[Capriole]

Shopping for dogs now.

[Alia]

O come O come, Emmanuel

[SunkenCiv]

Greenland Ice Cap Is Melting, Raising Sea Level
Source: The Associated Press
Published: Jul 20, 2000 - 04:05 PM Author: By Paul Recer
Posted on 07/20/2000 14:37:50 PDT by Ms. AntiFeminazi
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3977712e1941.htm