Standard deviation of monthly average temperature in the United States

Maps of the distribution of standard deviation of monthly average temperature over the United States are given. These are based on the 1941-1970 period. A brief history of the derivation of United States normal temperatures and of past work on standard deviation distribution is presented. As an example, changes during this century in the standard deviation of January temperature at Lincoln, Neb., are discussed. A 1968 report by H.C.S. Thom is reprinted as an Appendix discussing confidence intervals, probabilities, quantiles of temperature functions, and approximation of normal monthly degree days as applications of standard deviation of temperature data. 1978 NESDIS (National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service) NCEI (National Centers for Environmental Information) Library Public domain 2286