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UK weather stations report a mixture of snapshot hourly
observations of the weather known as synoptic observations,
and daily summaries of the weather known as climate observations.
For instance, hourly temperature is a synoptic element,
but daily maximum and minimum temperature are climate elements;
cloud is synoptic but sunshine is climate. The climate observations
are made at 0900 in winter, 1000 in summer, with some sites
making a further observation at 2100, 2200 in summer.
A few sites send in hourly climatic observations. Observations
from around 200 UK synoptic stations are collected in real
time; climate data from synoptic stations also comes in
straight after readings are taken. However, climate observations
from several hundred co-operating observers come in as collectives
at the end of the month. All climate stations record daily
maximum and minimum air temperature and rainfall amount,
recorded over the period 0900-0900 period (1000-1000 in
summer).
Many observe additional elements. The representativity
of urban observations to the surrounding urban area can
be difficult to judge, and so their data need to be used
with caution. Some observations in urban areas are made
on roof tops.
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