Dataset: Total Monthly and Annual Sunshine Hours at Rothamsted 1893-2023
- DOI: 10.23637/rmsTMASunHours1893-2023-01
- Experiment: Rothamsted Weather Station
- Files included in the download:
- Total Monthly and Annual Sunshine Hours at Rothamsted 1893-2023 (xlsx)
- Version: 1.0
- Keywords: climate - climate change - meteorological factors - Rothamsted Research - thermometer - weather - weather data - sun
- Author(s): Sarah Perryman, Tony Scott, Chris Hall
- Publisher: Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research
Example of data
Summary
The dataset provides both the monthly and annual sun hours recorded at Rothamsted every year from 1878-2023. The figure shows just a subset example of the data - monthly total sun hours for June and December at Rothamsted 1878-2023. Summary data used for this chart are derived from daily data measured at Rothamsted Meteorological Station.
Methods
Technical Information
Total sun hours over 24 hours, 0000GMT to 2400GMT
Sun hours were originally recorded using a Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder. The sun's rays were focused onto a card (treated to prevent it from catching fire) and the brown scorch mark on the card was then measured. The cards are of varying lengths applicable to the time of year (winter, equinox, and summer). Since 2004 weather measurements have been automated with sunshine hours being calculated from solar radiation using the Campbell-Stokes equation. Solar radiation is measured using a thermopile pyranometer manufactured by Kipp & Zonen, Netherlands. The models used are CM3 pyranometer (2004 to April 2022) and CMP3 (May 2022 onwards).
Location: Rothamsted Meteorological Station, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England 51.82 N 0.37 W 128 m asl.
Related Documents
- Macdonald, A. et. al. (2018) Guide to the Classical and Other Long-term Experiments :
- Scott (2015) The U.K. Environmental Change Network Rothamsted. The First 20 Years :
- Morecroft, M.D. et al. (2009) The UK Environmental Change Network: Emerging Trends :
- Penman, H. L. (1974) Rothamsted Weather :
- Yates, F. (1969) The Broadbalk Yields: Investigations into the Effects of Weather on Yields :
Contributors
- Sarah Perryman: Data curator
- Margaret Glendining: Data curator
- Richard Ostler: Project leader
- Tony Scott: Data collector
- Nathalie Castells: Data manager
- Chris Hall: Data collector
- Andy Gregory: Project manager
Dataset Access and Conditions
Rights Holder
Rothamsted Research
License
This dataset is
available under a Creative Commons
Attribution Licence (4.0).
Cite this Dataset
YOU MUST CITE AS: Sarah Perryman, Tony Scott, Chris Hall (2024). Dataset: Total Monthly and Annual Sunshine Hours at Rothamsted 1893-2023 Electronic Rothamsted Archive, Rothamsted Research https://doi.org/10.23637/rmsTMASunHours1893-2023-01
Please review our How to Credit Datasets guidance for more information.
Conditions of Use
Rothamsted relies on the integrity of users to ensure that datasets are used appropriately and Rothamsted Research receives suitable acknowledgment as being the originators of these data. Please review the Conditions of Use before downloading.
Table Of Contents
An Excel file containing monthly and annual sun hours for each year and a chart of these data.
The monthly and annual summary data contained in this spreadsheet are derived from daily data measured at Rothamsted Meteorological Station, Harpenden using MS Excel.
Verification includes checks for instrument errors, for missing data and outliers.
The original raw daily data is available, after registering, from the e-RA database. Please contact the e-RA Curators for an access password and further details.
- The dataset Total Monthly and Annual Sunshine Hours at Rothamsted 1893-2023 is a published dataset from the e-RA Database. e-RA is part of the Rothamsted Long-Term Experiments - National Bioscience Research Infrastructure (RLTE-NBRI), which also covers maintenance of the Long-Term Experiments, the Rothamsted Sample Archive and Rothamsted's environmental monitoring activities including the weather stations and its role in the UK Environmental Change Network
- The RLTE-NBRI is funded by UK Research and Innovation - Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (UKRI-BBSRC) under award BBS/E/RH/23NB0007 (2023-2028). The RLTE-NBRI is also supported by the Lawes Agricultural Trust. e-RA has been part of a National Capability since 2012, previous awards from the BBSRC were Grants BBS/E/C/00005189 (2012-2017) and BBS/E/C/000J0300 (2017-2022)
For further information and assistance, please contact the e-RA curators, Sarah Perryman and Margaret Glendining using the e-RA email address: era@rothamsted.ac.uk