The Radcliffe Meteorological Station on Woodstock Road has been collecting weather data since 1767, and possesses the longest series of temperature and rainfall records for one site in Britain - dating back to January 1815. Further information about the station can be found here: http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/rms/
On a frosty February morning, I accompanied Gillian Kay to do the daily readings, in the garden of Green College beside the old Observatory building. These readings are kept as an Oxford record, and are sent to the Met office on a monthly basis, contributing to the picture of weather data across the UK. Gillian has been doing the readings in Oxford for 3.5 years
What's the most interesting part of taking the weather readings?
It's always more interesting when I feel like there's been some unusual weather - I want to see what it actually looks like in terms of the measurements. Sometimes I'm a complete geek and like to estimate how much rain there has been before I check the rain gauge then see how close I come!
What's the most extreme weather you've recorded?
There was a big storm on 8th July 2004 during which 50.0mm rain fell, mostly within an hour in the afternoon. To put it in context, the average rainfall for the whole month of July is 59.5mm. Then there was the max temperature ever recorded at the Radcliffe in August 2003: 35.6C.
What's the most obscure request you've had for weather data?
A few years ago, we had a request for information about the occurrence of snow storms in early 1889. The person was writing a Victorian novel and I think wanted to include some dramatic snow storm in the twists and turns of the plot. We couldn't provide information about intensity/depth of snow, but
could tell her the days on which it did snow.
What do you love most about doing the records?
Going to the same place every day makes me very aware of the seasons and the way they change. Of course the Green College gardens are really beautiful and it's a pleasure to go there so often. I notice which flowers come out first and which trees hang on to their leaves the longest. I can tell you when the Californian Lilac and the wisteria by the gate will be out in flower together. And the changes are all seen in the measurements I'm taking too. I think I just feel a lot more tuned into what's going on in nature.
Which instrument do you find most intriguing?
I like the sunshine recorder. It looks magic (probably because of the glass ball) and yet it is so simple. I like the smell of the singed card that's burnt through when there's bright sunshine. I also like the barometer. More because of the history, as it dates from the 1850s, and someone has been
twiddling the same knob on it that I twiddle every single day since then.
What's your favourite weather?
I like it when the sun is low in the sky and there are lots of clouds in lots of different colours of pink and grey, all growing/dispersing/changing shape. You get great views from the top of the Engineering building!
What weather patterns can you see changing from your daily data collection and the historical records?
Personally, I have noticed that minimum temperatures have been increasing, and 2006 was the warmest year on record, followed by 2004 then 2005/2002 joint 3rd.
Interesting graphs http://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/research/rms/series.php
Further information:
Explore the weather at the Met Office: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/
Find out how weather works..and more at the BBC Weather Centre website
See weather pictures on the BBC Weather centre gallery here.
