(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Why does the temperature in your car read higher than what the Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) forecasts PACA has said that its readings are neither incorrect nor is it hiding the actual temperature as many citizens call the met office to complain.
''Every day several people call to complain that the temperature predicted by the authority is incorrect. They say we are hiding the right readings and predicting a lower temperature,'' Dr Sultan Salim al Yahyai, chief of PACA's Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) Section.
''They trust the car reading over our forecasts. We have a difficult time explaining to them that it's the readings shown in the car that are incorrect.''
Dr Yahyai said that Oman follows the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) method of measuring temperature followed worldwide.
''As per the WMO method, the temperature forecast is that of air measured at a place which doesn't receive direct rays of the sun. The standard temperature observation site has sensors located about two metres above the ground. The reason for not collecting readings under direct sunlight is to avoid inflated temperature. And, people think that it is a wrong method as we are collecting readings of a place which is not receiving direct sun rays.''
Explaining the method, he said the sensor placed in shade reads temperature of just the air around it and does not absorb the radiant energy from light. When placed under direct sunlight, the sensor will also convert the light absorbed into heat. This heat energy and that gained from the nearby air results in higher temperature,'' he said.
Dr Badar al Rumhi, head of PACA's forecasting centre said, ''We do not accept car reading as the metal that reads the temperature might be closer to the engine, or ground or is sensitive to heat. When you enter a car which has been in the sun for hours, you feel extremely hot from the accumulated heat.
''You will also notice that three cars kept at the same place will give different readings. But, our weather measurement instruments will give the same temperature at the same place under the shade.
''The sensors are placed two metres above the ground so that the instrument doesn't absorb the heat emitting from the ground and give false readings in the process.''
He added, ''These sensors do not directly display the temperature of the air. Rather, they show the temperature of the sensing element which is usually metal or glass. When the sensing element is placed under sunlight, it gets warmed excessively over and above the air temperature. When the sensor is placed in the shade, it is only warmed by the air. That is why the air temperature is measured by placing the instrument in shade.''&nb
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