America’s Hottest Month – July 1901

6 Responses to America’s Hottest Month – July 1901

1. gator69 says:

   March 28, 2014 at 2:35 pm

   Not possible. There were no satellites, and people are just now learning how to properly read thermometers.

   Reply
   • B says:

     March 29, 2014 at 6:05 am

     All modern science is based on the assumption that people in the past were less intelligent, less knowledgeable, and generally dumber. This is why it is so often wrong.

     Reply
2. Michael D Smith says:

   March 28, 2014 at 3:22 pm

   Can you see any parallels with other hot periods you have found in history? I think hot land surfaces generally come during cool ocean periods, as I’ve seen a fair amount of anecdotal evidence of that (mostly from here). Lack of moisture in the air would make for higher daytime highs and lower lows in general. More moisture in the air would be a serious buffer due to more rain over land, and more transpiration. A long cool ocean period would have a high risk of extended drought and high temps I would think. So any actual world-wide warming of surface waters should be largely beneficial in moderating climate due to the much higher evaporation rates from warm water.

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   • Gail Combs says:

     March 28, 2014 at 4:18 pm

     Yes higher evaporation does moderate the climate. You can look at real world data and see that:

     A comparison of the humid Brazilian rain forest and the dry N. African Desert.
     Barcelos, Brazil – monthly min 20C, monthly max 33C, monthly average 26C
     Average humidity 90%

     Adrar, Algeria – monthly min 9C monthly max 44C, monthly average 30C
     Average humidity around 0%

     The data is from May 2012. May was picked because it is midway between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice and therefore the sun would be midway between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer (the latitude line at 23.5° North) so the solar insolation at both locations would be roughly equal with a bit more expected in Barcelos, Brazil.

     I took a rough look at the data from Brazil. Twelve days were sunny. I had to toss the data for two days because it was bogus. The average humidity was 80% for those ten days. The high was 32 with a range of 1.7C and the low was 22.7C with a range of 2.8C. Given the small range in values over the month the data is probably a pretty good estimate for the effects of humidity only. You still get the day-night variation of ~ 10C with a high humidity vs a day-night variation of 35C without and the average temp is STILL going to be lower when the humidity is high.

     This data would indicate GHGs have two effects. One is to even out the temperature and the second is to act as a “coolant” at least if the GHG is H2O.

     The latent heat of evaporation could be why the average is 4C lower when in Brazil vs Algeria. (Using temperature without humidity to estimate the global heat content is REALLY REALLY bad physics.)

     ALTITUDE:
     Barcelos, Brazil elevation ~ 30 meters (100 ft)
     Adrar, Algeria ~ Elevation: 280 metres (920 feet)

     One would expect a drop in temperature of ~ 4C due to altitude for Adrar, Algeria so the difference between locations, taking into account altitude is ~ 8C higher in Adrar which is further north but with much lower humidity.
     (wwwDOT)engineeringtoolbox.com/air-altitude-temperature-d_461.html

     Hat Tip to Sleepalot who first did this work. I just verified and expanded his idea by looking at sunny days only and the elevation.

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3. catweazle666 says:

   March 28, 2014 at 6:02 pm

   You and your damn facts, Steve!

   Don’t you understand, crimatologists oops climastrologists no, I mean climate McScientists have to make a living too, you know.

   Reply
4. Andy Oz says:

   March 29, 2014 at 6:41 am

   Short but strong La Nina in June and July 1901. Might have had some influence.
   http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/current/soihtm1.shtml
   In 1896 and 1905 there was a very strong El Nino and Australia had record heatwaves, droughts and bushfires. I’m guessing the US had much cooler weather during those summers?

   Reply