UNUSUAL EXTREMES AND DIURNAL CYCLES OF DESERT HEAT LOADS

: Diurnal cycles of high temperature during which equipment must operate, and long-term temperature extremes and cycles which equipment must withstand without irreversible damage, are provided for the revision of MIL-STD- 210A, 'Climatic Extremes for Military Equipment The high temperature during which the equipment should be operable was selected from a companion study. The still higher temperatures that the equipment must withstand on standby for periods of 2 to 25 years without irreversible damage are new. The areas studied for these extremes included Death Valley, Calif., and stations in French West Africa. The operational upper 1-percent extreme in the hottest month in the worst location is 120F; the associated dirunal cycle has an amplitude of 29F. The withstanding upper 10-percent extreme is 128F for a 2-year planned life, increasing to 133F for a 25-year planned life.