| 2006 |
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YEAR BOOK |
Coláiste Íosagáin, BÁC
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"The Sunny Southeast" – Is it True?
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To monitor and compare the weather in Wexford and West Cork during July and August 2004 and 2005, to see in which location the best summer weather occurs.
Materials & methods
In order for us to compare our results, we had to measure the same things, at the same time, with the same type of equipment and in the same way.
1. We decided what it was possible for us to measure daily with limited experience and money. We decided on max & min temperatures, humidity and rainfall. We also decided to note daily wind speed and direction, predominant clouds, estimated hours of sunshine and a brief description of the weather every day.
2. We bought 2 identical max/min thermometers, 2 identical hygrometers, 2 compasses, 2x10ml syringes and 2 identical books on identifying clouds. We made 2 identical devices for collecting rainwater and measuring wind direction and speed.
3. We did a pilot study, setting up a small weather station in Dublin in June 2004, and took measurements together over a few days so that we were satisfied that we were both doing the same thing, before proceeding separately.
4. Finally, we set up our two individual weather stations – one in Ballymoney, Co. Wexford and one in Goleen, West Cork. We recorded our measurements at the same time each day.
Other sources
From the Met Éireann website we downloaded monthly weather reports for 2004 and 2005 measured in the closest weather stations (Rosslare and Valentia). We also downloaded the daily weather reports from the same stations. This was particularly important for hours of sunshine measured, which we couldn't measure ourselves.
Results
We recorded our measurements and observations daily over 14 weeks in July and August 2004 and 2005. We plotted our results and looked at average hours sunshine, rainfall volume and days of rainfall, max/min temperatures, temperature ranges, relative humidity, wind speed and direction etc. per day/week/month.
We also compared our data with that from the nearest weather stations, and compared data gained over two summers.
Conclusions
The best summer weather as judged by the criteria we measured, was found in the Southeast of the country. And so the answer to our initial question is — "yes"!
Richeal ní Thighearnaigh & Etáin nic an Aoire, entered their project in the Junior Group Section in the Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences Category at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in January 2006. They won a Special Award sponsored by Met Éireann. Their teacher was Ms Valerie Ni Chochlain.
| This article was sponsored by Met Éireann |
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