Slappy wrote:As I know you've been to PA lots of times I'm sure you know it's pretty much the hottest spot on the Island in the summer if it's sunny. You aren't saying Duncan is hotter are you?...
No, I am not suggesting Duncan is hotter Port Alberni.
I am saying is that Port Alberni is located in the wrong valley. It is not located in the Cowichan Valley and is therefore not in located in the same thermal wind 'system' as Lake Nitinat. If Port Alberni is not in the same valley, it has no direct relationship to what is happening at Lake Nitinat, so at best it is a rough surrogate or proxy.
No Duncan does not get as hot as Port Alberni, but Duncan is in the same valley or 'wind system' as Lake Nitinat and given that it is warmer than Lake Nitinat would suggest that Duncan is likely a contributing factor to the thermal produced at Lake Nitinat. The fact that is does not get as hot as Port Alberni is irrelevant since Port Alberni is in another valley.
If heat were the only factor than the Alberni Inlet would kick earlier, blow steadier, blow more often and blow longer than Lake Nitinat, but it doesn't (although there are rumours of 'stronger' wind that kicks earlier further west of China Creek in the Alberni Inlet). There are other factors at play, likely including the volume of air in the valley (volume in the Cowichan Valley appears to be much larger and if you have more volume being drawn through a comparable opening you will get stronger wind) and with more volume at lower temperatures this could be one explanation as to why wind is so steady at Lake Nitinat compared to the Alberni Inlet.
Yes I appreciate drawing data from a different source has technical challenges and in the absence of anything better the Nitinaht Temp Grid is still a useful piece of information to throw into the mix when making 'go/no-go' decisions. Thanks and gratitude to Alton.
I hope that helps to clarify the points I was trying to make.
