The Durham University Observatory is a weather

observatory An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. H ...

owned and operated by the

University of Durham , mottoeng = Her foundations are upon the holy hills ( Psalm 87:1) , established = (university status) , type = Public , academic_staff = 1,830 (2020) , administrative_staff = 2,640 (2018/19) , chancellor = Sir Thomas Allen , vice_ch ...

. It is a Grade II listed building located at Potters Bank, Durham and was founded in 1839 initially as an

astronomical Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, ...

and

meteorological Meteorology is a branch of the atmospheric sciences (which include atmospheric chemistry and physics) with a major focus on weather forecasting. The study of meteorology dates back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not ...

observatory (owing to the need to calculate

refraction In physics, refraction is the redirection of a wave as it passes from one medium to another. The redirection can be caused by the wave's change in speed or by a change in the medium. Refraction of light is the most commonly observed phenomen ...

from the air temperature) by Temple Chevallier, until 1937 when the observatory moved purely to meteorological recording. The observatory's current director is Professor Tim Burt of the Geography Department, who is also Master of

Hatfield College , motto_English = Either the first or with the first , scarf = , named_for = Thomas Hatfield , established = , senior_tutor = , master = Ann MacLarnon (2017–) , undergraduates = 1010 (2017/18) , postgrad ...

. After the Radcliffe Observatory, Durham has the longest unbroken meteorological record of any University in the UK, with records dating back to the 1840s, principally due to the work of

Gordon Manley Gordon Valentine Manley, FRGS (3 January 1902 – 29 January 1980) was a British climatologist who has been described as "probably the best known, most prolific and most expert on the climate of Britain of his generation". He assembled the Cent ...

in creating a temperature record that would be comparable to Oxford's. The Observatory's History At present the observatory contributes to the

Met Office The Meteorological Office, abbreviated as the Met Office, is the United Kingdom's national weather service. It is an executive agency and trading fund of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and is led by CEO Penelope ...

's forecasts by providing automated records.

Former observers

*1840 – 1841 Temple Chevallier *1841 John Stewart Browne *1842 – 1846

Arthur Beanlands Arthur is a common male given name of Brythonic origin. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. The etymology is disputed. It may derive from the Celtic ''Artos'' meaning “Bear”. Another theory, more w ...

*1846 – 1849 Robert Anchor Thompson *1849 Le Jeune *1849

Robert Healey Blakey The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

(acting) *1849 – 1852 Richard Carrington *1852 – 1853 William Ellis *1854 – 1855 Georg Friedrich Wilhelm Rümker *1856 – 1863

Albert Marth Albert Marth (5 May 1828 – 6 August 1897) was a German astronomer who worked in England and Ireland. Life After studying theology at the University of Berlin, his interest in astronomy and mathematics led him to study astronomy under C. A ...

*1863 – 1864 Edward Gleadowe Marshall *1865 – 1867 Mondeford Reginald Dolman *1867 – 1874 John Isaac Plummer *1874 – 1885 Gabriel Alphonsus Goldney *1885 – 1900 Henry James Carpenter *1900 – 1919 Frederick Charles Hampshire Carpenter *1919 – 1938 Frank Sargent *1938 – 1939 E. Gluckauf *1940 – 1945 A. Beecroft *1945 – 1948 L. S. Joyce *1949 – 1951 K. F. and G. A. Chackett *1951 – 1957 J. Musgrave *1957 – 1968 F. and D. Glockling *1969 – 1990 A. Warner

References

External links

Archived Observatory Homepage

Current Observatory Homepage

News Article on rising temperatures at Durham

Observatory, Potters Bank, Durham; Listed building (Durham City)

{{Authority control Buildings and structures of Durham University Astronomical observatories in England 1839 establishments in England Meteorological observatories Anthony Salvin buildings