Studies of the Army Aviation (V/STOL) Environment. Report No. 7. Worldwide Distributions of Ambient Temperatures and Temperatures of Materiel Exposed to Direct Solar Radiation.

• Main Author: Viletto,John , Jr
• Other Authors: ARMY ENGINEER TOPOGRAPHIC LABS FORT BELVOIR VA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1973
• Subjects: Meteorology; *ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE; *FAILURE(MECHANICS); *SHORT TAKEOFF AIRCRAFT; LIBYA; USSR; UNITED STATES; EXPOSURE(GENERAL); DISTRIBUTION; CANADA; SOLAR RADIATION; AFRICA; ISOTHERMS; FIELD CONDITIONS; CHINA; GREENLAND; SOUTH ASIA; El Azizia(Libya); Oimekon(USSR); Southwest Asia; Northwest Territories; Canada; Greenland; Stol; Antarc*; Antarctica; Siberia
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA001461; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA001461

Studies have shown that the effects of temperatures are the major causes for aircraft failures in the field. Natural temperatures, including ambient shade and exposed or those resulting from direct solar radiation, are considered; induced temperatures which are not natural are not included in this report. Recorded official ambient shade temperatures for the world, excluding Antarctica, range from 136F at El Azizia, Libya, to 90F at Oimekon, USSR. The greatest areal extent of mean maximum temperatures above 100F occurs during July. Africa has a large area enclosed by a 120F isotherm. A considerable area of southwest Asia is enclosed by a 100F isotherm. Both western USA and southeastern China have large areas recording a July mean maximum of 100F. Mean minimum temperatures much lower than 32F cover vast areas of the Northern Hemisphere during January. The coldest area is a large area in north central Siberia with -80F. A second large, cold area including the Northwest Territories of Canada and all the islands between north central Canada and Greenland, has a January mean minimum temperature of -55F. See also Rept. no. 5, dated Jan 73, AD/A-001 460.