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The importance of "good" numbers . . .

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nuckollsr(at)cox.net
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Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:13 am Post subject: The importance of "good" numbers . . .

I've often cited a simple-idea proffered by one Lord Kelvin



http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Printonly/Thomson.html



of whom it might be said, "Was obsessed with the ideas behind

accurate measurement." One of my favorite Kelvin quotes:



     "I often say that when you can measure what you are

      speaking about, and express it in numbers, you know

      something about it; but when you cannot measure it,

      when you cannot express it in numbers, your knowledge

      is of a meager and unsatisfactory kind. It may be the

      beginning of knowledge, but you have scarcely, in

      your thoughts, advanced to the stage of science, whatever

      the matter may be." - Lord Kelvin



We all have at least a rudimentary appreciation for the value

of having accurate numbers to describe the function of our

aircraft. One can easily deduce the potential for expense

and/or hazard if an airspeed indicator is badly out of

calibration . . . or perhaps an altimeter, a gyro, etc.



In many cases, the gathering and consideration of poor numbers

can have an incomprehensible effect on the lives and

fortunes of millions. This is especially true when pseudo-scientists

come to the attention of legislators and craft law based on

poor interpretation of poor numbers. With these thoughts in mind,

consider the facts and ideas presented at:



http://www.norcalblogs.com/watts/weather_stations/



There are folks belabored of the assumption that data from

these weather stations (and no doubt MANY more like them)

is accurate to within a tenth of a degree. What do you think?



Something to arm yourself with should you have a chance

to speak to your own representatives who may be inclined

to bring the force of law down upon your future and that

of your children.



        Bob . . .



        ----------------------------------------

        ( "Physics is like sex: sure, it may   )

        ( give some practical results, but     )

        ( that's not why we do it."            )

        (                                      )

        (                 Richard P. Feynman   )

        ----------------------------------------

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Eric M. Jones

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 565
Location: Massachusetts

Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: The importance of

Nice info Bob. Temperature measuments are hard to do. I think this problem has kept cold fusion guys going for over a decade. I frankly worry about global warming that has been accelerating for the past six years... on Mars. There are some "hand-waving" explanations for this, but you gotta' wonder....



 	  Quote: 	
		  (From USA Today: The USA's highest temperature, 134° on July 10, 1913 in Death Valley, Calif., is also the official highest temperature in the Western Hemisphere. 



The world's highest official temperature is 136° recorded at El Azizia, Libya, on Sept. 13, 1922. 



Not everyone agrees that the Death Valley and El Azizia records are valid. Some meteorologists say that a sandstorm was going on at the time 134° was measured at Greenland Ranch in Death Valley and that very hot sand and dust could have hit the thermometer inside its shelter, pushing its measurement higher than the actual temperature of the air. 	




Now the TRUE story (well...legend has it), is that the guy at Furnace Creek July 10, 1913, didn't go out to Badwater, where the official thermometer coop was a 1/2 mile out on the salt flat. He merely estimated the temperature at the -282 elevation by knowing that it ran some few degrees hotter than the temperature at Furnace Creek. So the record USA high temperature is unofficial in the strictest sense. If you go to Furnace Creek in mid-July you will know this is probably true.

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_________________
Eric M. Jones
www.PerihelionDesign.com
113 Brentwood Drive
Southbridge, MA 01550
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emjones(at)charter.net

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