Harry Wyeth wrote:
I recently returned from Spain, where I viewed a TV news program about
flooding in part of that country. The reporter stated that the rainfall
had been in the amount of 8.-something liters per square meter within a
one hour period.
Anyone have any idea why she made it so complicated? Why not just say
rainfall in the amount of 8.xx cm, period? Is this a European thing?
I have heard that this practice is common in Europe, although in Ireland,
rainfall is quoted in mm (probably because it used to be quoted in
inches). However, mm of rainfall (not cm) and liters
per square meter actually comes to the same thing, 8.6 mm of rain is
actually 8.6 L/m².
See http://www.fao.org/docrep/R4082E/r4082e05.htm
As for the why, I agree with you. Although the formal units used are
more correct (how can you measure a liquid as a length?) and therefore
to be preferred in a scientific article, the use of mm is more intuitive
to the TV viewer, as he can visualize the amount of rain needed to produce
flooding that deep.
---------------------------------------------------------
Tom Wade | EMail: tee dot wade at eurokom dot ie
EuroKom | Tel: +353 (1) 296-9696
A2, Nutgrove Office Park | Fax: +353 (1) 296-9697
Rathfarnham | Disclaimer: This is not a disclaimer
Dublin 14 | Tip: "Friends don't let friends do Unix !"
Ireland
