Average temperature: Difference between revisions

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== Alternatives ==
== Alternatives ==
This offers an alternative to the simple mean of the highest and lowest temperatures of the day, and can give a 'better' average in cases where the high or low temperature occurred for a relatively short period, so could skew the simple average. To compare the two, select ''This period'' from the '''view''' menu and by default it will show both the integrated mean and simple mean temperatures for yesterday when you click '''Update display'''.
An alternative ''average temperature'' figure, sometimes seen, is the simple mean of the ''highest'' and ''lowest temperatures'' of the day. The intregated mean using all measurements can give a 'better' average especially in cases where the high or low temperature occurred for a relatively short period, so could skew the simpler extremity-based average. To compare the two, select ''This period'' from the '''view''' menu and by default it will show both the integrated mean and simple extremity-based mean temperatures for one day, yesterday, when you click '''Update display'''.


Note that statistically, a median temperature could be used to avoid such skewing, this would require holding all the individual measurements for a day, ranking them in order of magnitude and quoting the central value in that list - Cumulus does not retain the every minute individual values and cannot calculate median. If you wanted to compare daily median and daily mean, you would need to analyse the monthly log file with an external package.
Note that '''statistically''', a median temperature could be used to avoid such skewing, this would require holding all the individual measurements for a day, ranking them in order of magnitude and quoting the central value in that list - Cumulus does not retain the every minute (timing can vary by weather station type) individual values and cannot calculate median. If you wanted to compare daily median and daily mean, you would need to analyse the monthly log file with an external package. Medians are not used by meteorologists.


[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Terminology]]
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