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Meteorological data for the Netherlands, 1990-2002

The Netherlands has a maritime climate characterised by mild winters, cool summers and precipitation throughout the entire year. The prevailing wind direction is from the south-west.

 Unit1971/200019901995200020012002
        
Days with precipitationnumber of days 131124125158157139
 >= 1.0 mm      
Snow daysnumber of days 25154012325
Dry daysnumber of days 10912713191105134
Days without sunshinenumber of days 766643555651
Fog daysnumber of days 654658455093
        
Sunshinehours1 5241 6221 8141 5151 6231 688
Global radiation 1)kJ/cm2347366366338359362
Precipitationmm8277647989751091988
Evaporation mm543583590541571574
Relative humidity%827983848483
        
Ice days (max. temp <0.0oC)number of days 8012236
Frost days (min. temp <0.0oC)number of days 583361356640
Summery days (max. temp >=25.0oC)number of days 223241222418
Tropical days (max. temp >=30.0oC)number of days 3311264
        
Average of:       
- Hourly observations (entire year)oC9.811.110.410.910.410.8
- Winter (1 Dec - 28/29 Feb)oC3.36.05.35.04.14.8
- Summer (1 June - 31 Aug)oC16.616.818.216.317.417.6
Averaged daily minimum temperatures in winter (1 Dec - 28/29 Feb)oC0.43.22.32.11.31.7
Averaged daily maximum temperatures in summer (1 June - 31 Aug)oC21.421.923.421.122.422.3
Number of degree days 2)number of degrees 3 0752 6772 9162 6592 8802 720
        
Source: KNMI (2003a, 2003b).CBS/EDC/May03
N.B. All figures are for De Bilt.
1) The amount of solar radiation reaching the earth's surface.
2) Degrees under the heating degree threshold (=18oC), on the basis of the average daily temperature in De Bilt.

Interaction between climate and the environment


The Netherlands has a maritime climate characterised by mild winters, cool summers and precipitation throughout the entire year. The prevailing wind direction is from the south-west. The weather can have a direct impact on the environment. A few examples are:
On the other hand, the environment also has an effect on the weather. Increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will lead to climate change.

Technical note


The number of degree days is a measure of the number of days in which residential and working premises are heated. These data are used to calculate the temperature-corrected emissions of CO2.

References


  • KNMI (2003a). Maandoverzicht van het weer in Nederland. Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, De Bilt.
  • KNMI (2003b). Maandoverzicht neerslag en verdamping in Nederland. Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, De Bilt.
  • KNMI (2003c). Klimaatatlas van Nederland, normaalperiode 1971-2000. Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, De Bilt.

Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium


Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium


  • More data about the climate can be obtained from the KNMI.
This page was last changed on November 25, 2005  (version 01).