Ticker for October 12, 2006

                
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October 12, 2006   October 12, 2006   October 12, 2006   October 12, 2006


It's Gonna Be Bright, Bright Sunshiny Year

After a look at the Oklahoma Mesonet's sunlight stats, we can see
clearly now the clouds have gone. Severe drought carries many
consequences, one of which is a preponderance of sunny days.
Through yesterday, the 2006 solar radiation totals outpace all
other years of the Mesonet era:

Cumulative Solar Radiation Totals through October 11
(in Mega-Joules per square meter per Mesonet station)

Year   Oct11 Total   YearEnd Total
2006:     5507.9            ????
1996:     5374.9          6183.7
2000:     5373.2          6095.2
1994:     5298.5          6009.0
1998:     5281.1          6051.4
2001:     5267.1          6132.0
1999:     5255.9          6226.4
2002:     5197.6          5939.1
2003:     5192.9          6029.6
1997:     5197.8          5961.6
2005:     5177.3          6122.5
1995:     5046.0          5964.3
2004:     5005.2          5762.1

This year has been so sunny that it is entirely possible that the 2006
cumulative sunlight will pass gloomy 2004's annual total by the end of
this month!

Notice also the leate-year surges of 1999 and 2005, both of which
finished with relatively high year-end totals (1999 stands as the
sunniest year in the Mesonet Era). Both of these years were marked
by late-year drought (and associated sunniness).

We're rooting for the clouds to make a comeback and help 2006 fall
back to the pack in this race of radiance.