THE PRESENTATION OFTEMPERATURE INFORMATION IN TELEVISION BROADCASTS: WHAT IS NORMAL?

In a typical weather broadcast, observed daily temper-ature information such as maximum and minimum tem-peratures is shown and compared to the daily average or "normal". Such information, however, does not accurately describe whether or not that particular day is fairly typi-cal for that time of year or truly an unusual occurrence. Thus, it is suggested that the presentation of temperature information can be augmented with elementary statistical information in order to give a more meaningful presenta-tion of temperature information without the need to explain the basis of such statistical information. A study of the climatological maximum and minimum tempera-tures over a 30-year period for Columbia, Missouri is per-formed in order to provide the rationale for displaying a "typical " temperature range. This information was incor-porated into television weather broadcasts at KOMU-TV8, which is the campus television station and local NBC affiliate. 1