Exploration of the Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Meteorological Variables over the Bay Area in Summer
Faculty Advisor: Oswaldo Garcia
Graduate Advisor:
Elizabeth Frieberg
The Bay Area is known for its many microclimates. On a typical summer day one does not have to go far to experience big changes in temperature, cloud cover, and humidity. We thought it would be interesting to measure how rapidly the weather can change as one moves around the Bay Area. On five separate days during August 2005, we measured temperature, relative humidity, pressure, and GPS positions at various locations using instruments mounted on a car. Our measurements took place on trips back and forth from the San Francisco State University campus to Twin Peaks, Mt. Diablo, Mt. Tamalpais, and the Junipero Serra statue on Interstate 280. This allowed us to sample the changes in the variables we measured in the east-west, north-south and up-down direction. The data were collected using various instruments and were recorded using a data logger and then downloaded to a computer and analyzed. The results of our analysis will be presented.