Fifty years of degree-day data

Another exhibit for the Museum of Energy Management: thanks to David Bridger for unearthing UK monthly degree-day data for the period 1966 to 1975 (view the complete archive file here ).

These data have mainly curiosity value and should not be relied upon for any kind of trend analysis. Observing stations have sometimes been moved or affected by nearby building development and urban expansion. Region 18 (North West Scotland) was not even included at all until I launched the Degree Days Direct subscription service in 1992, and there had been two other main data providers before I got the contract to supply the official figures in 2003, so it would be risky to assume continuity over the whole fifty years.

Below: degree-day figures reported in the government’s “Energy Management” newspaper in 1986

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