> -----Original Message-----
> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu On Behalf Of Gerhard Fiedler
> Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 5:52 AM
>
> That looks like they are still recording to paper. Is this correct? If so,
> what's the advantage (especially on days with rain and sunshine
> or when the paper change person is sick)? There must be easier ways to get
> to the data...

It is a special paper that isn't damaged by rain and there are back up
observers to make the daily chart change. This gives a highly redundant and
resilient data collection system on a medium that will be readable for many
centuries, possibly millennia ;-) (ref. the last CD-R thread). They have all
the charts dating back to 1886 making it the longest running continuous
sunshine record in North America.

Actually, the Blue Hill Observatory uses the modern NWS automated equipment
as its primary data source. However, they maintain a large range of
redundant instruments (classic and modern) and use human observers to catch
and correct errors in the automated system and, prevent missed data due to
equipment failure.

Paul

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