Calculating average daily temperature

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the method of calculating average daily temperature using data from an automated weather station. Participants explore different formulas and the implications of using specific time points, particularly in relation to daylight saving time.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Debate/contested, Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant calculates average daily temperature using the formula (T07+T14+2*T21)/4 during standard time and (T08+T15+2*T22)/4 during summer, questioning its correctness.
  • Another participant argues that the average over 24 hours should be independent of the time zone and questions the rationale behind the chosen formula.
  • A participant mentions that they initially used all 24 data points for averaging but switched to the formula found on their country's meteorological service website.
  • There is a suggestion that the meteorological service may not provide hourly data, and a preference for averaging over all 24 hours is expressed as potentially better.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the appropriateness of the formula used for calculating average daily temperature, indicating that multiple competing views remain without consensus.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the potential limitations of using a weighted average and the implications of not utilizing all available data points from the weather station.

GhostLoveScore
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I have a automated weather station and I'm collecting data from it. And I was wondering about something. I calculate average daily temperature like this: (T07+T14+2*T21)/4 . During the summer I am calculating it like this (T08+T15+2*T22 )/4 . That's taking into consideration daylight saving time which puts the clock one hour forward. Is that the correct way to do it during the summer?
 
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The average over 24 hours should be independent of the time zone. Why do you use this formula? Especially if you seem to have more data points than you use?
 
Thanks for your answer mfb.
I save data every hour. I use that formula because I found it at my country's meteorological service web page.
When I first started calculating average daily temperature I used all 24 data points but later I found the formula in my original post and decided that I should use that.

Actually, my weather station reads data from sensor every 128 seconds but I am not sure if there is any use to store all that data.
 
Maybe the web page doesn't have hourly data. It looks like a weird weighted average. Averaging over all 24 hours should be better.
 

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