The effect of freezing and melting processes on the daily temperature curve at quebec city

A study was made of the frequency distribution of the daily maximum and minimum temperatures for the city of Quebec for the periods 1 February to 31 May and 1 September to 31 December. It was discovered that during the period when the snow was melting there was a damping effect of approximately 2°F on the maximum temperature on those days when the temperature rose above freezing. After the snow disappeared and the ground thawed out, there was a corresponding damping of about 1°F on the minimum temperature on those days when it approached freezing. The damping effect in the autumn is less than 1°F. Other features of these frequency distributions are also brought out.