Davis Instruments DWW6351 User Manual

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Wind Chill
Wind Chill
Wind chill takes into account how the speed of the wind affects our perception of the 
air temperature. Our bodies warm the surrounding air molecules by transferring heat 
from the skin. If there’s no air movement, this insulating layer of warm air molecules 
stays next to the body and offers some protection from cooler air molecules. 
However, wind sweeps that warm air surrounding the body away. The faster the 
wind blows, the faster heat is carried away and the colder you feel. Wind has a 
warming effect at higher temperatures.
Note: 
There is no windchill when the air temperature is at or above 93° F (-34° C).
Heat Index
The Heat Index uses temperature and the relative humidity to determine how hot the 
air actually “feels.” When humidity is low, the apparent temperature will be lower 
than the air temperature, since perspiration evaporates rapidly to cool the body. 
However, when humidity is high (i.e., the air is more saturated with water vapor) the 
apparent temperature “feels” higher than the actual air temperature, because 
perspiration evaporates more slowly.
Note: 
Heat Index and air temperature are equal at or below 0° F (-18° C).
Dew Point
Dew point is the temperature to which air must be cooled for saturation (100% 
relative humidity) to occur, providing there is no change in water vapor content. The 
dew point is an important measurement used to predict the formation of dew, frost, 
and fog. If dew point and temperature are close together in the late afternoon when 
the air begins to turn colder, fog is likely during the night. Dew point is also a good 
indicator of the air’s actual water vapor content, unlike relative humidity, which takes 
the air’s temperature into account. High dew point indicates high water vapor 
content; low dew point indicates low water vapor content. In addition a high dew 
point indicates a better chance of rain, severe thunderstorms, and tornados. 
You can also use dew point to predict the minimum overnight temperature. Provided 
no new fronts are expected overnight and the afternoon relative humidity is greater 
than 50%, the afternoon’s dew point gives you an idea of what minimum temperature 
to expect overnight. The higher the humidity is, the more accurate the dew point 
prediction.
Note: 
Dew Point is equal to the air temperature when the humidity is 100%.
Rain
Vantage Vue incorporates a tipping spoon rain collector in the ISS that measures 0.01'' 
or 0.2 mm for each tip of the spoon. Your station logs rain data in the same units it is 
measured in and converts the logged totals into the selected display units (inches or 
millimeters) at the time it is displayed. Converting at display time reduces possible 
compounded rounding errors over time. 
Four separate variables track rain totals: “rain rate,” “daily rain,” “monthly rain,” and 
“yearly rain.” Rain rate calculations are based on the interval of time between each 
spoon tip, which is each 0.01'' or 0.2 mm rainfall increment.