Are temperature readings taken in the shade or in sunlight?

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Tampa Bay Hurricane
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Are temperature readings taken in the shade or in sunlight?

#1 Postby Tampa Bay Hurricane » Wed Mar 14, 2007 3:38 pm

I am new to temperature measurement so I was wondering, are you supposed to take temperature readings in the shade or in sunlight?
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Aslkahuna
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#2 Postby Aslkahuna » Wed Mar 14, 2007 4:46 pm

In the shade if possible or at least shielded if it can't be shaded all day. Also, it should be 2 meters (6.6 feet) off the ground to be comparable to the height official readings are taken at. However, do not expect to always be close to the official values since temperatures, especially at night and n the Winter, are very microclimate sensitive even in warm locales (always colder at night aound and in ditches, drainage canals and streambeds).

Steve
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#3 Postby Tampa Bay Hurricane » Wed Mar 14, 2007 5:25 pm

thanks for the information!
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#4 Postby therock1811 » Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:35 pm

Also, in the middle of a city center, expect the temperature to reflect a "heat island" effect due to all of the concrete.
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#5 Postby Tampa Bay Hurricane » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:06 pm

therock1811 wrote:Also, in the middle of a city center, expect the temperature to reflect a "heat island" effect due to all of the concrete.

Oh yes whenever I go to downtown the concrete emanates much higher heat.
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#6 Postby HarlequinBoy » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:35 pm

Oh, I never knew that. Haha.

Why are you supposed to take reading in the shade?
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#7 Postby Aslkahuna » Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:24 pm

Because what you are measuring is the air temperature and not how hot the thermometer can get in sunlight.

Steve
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#8 Postby HarlequinBoy » Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:52 pm

Oh, okay.
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