Freeze-thaw atlas: methodology
How a freeze-thaw atlas would be built from daily temperature data, and why no map or damage figures are shown.
Method
Use a stated daily-temperature freeze-thaw definition and a record of which stations meet the completeness rules. Present climate exposure separately from inspected masonry damage.
No freeze-thaw definition has been chosen yet, and no station completeness rules are set.
What the atlas needs
| Input | Status |
|---|---|
| Daily temperature observations | Missing |
| Freeze-thaw definition | Missing |
| Station completeness rules | Missing |
| Verified condition data if damage is shown | Missing |
Why heating degree days are not enough
The climate data on file is an annual heating degree day normal for each station. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center describes degree days as an index of the energy needed to heat or cool buildings. An annual total of them is not a count of freeze-thaw cycles.
Exposure and damage stay separate
The atlas would show climate exposure apart from inspected masonry damage. No inspected-condition records are on file, so no damage can be shown.
What the masonry source says
NPS describes water entering damaged brick and deterioration during freeze-thaw cycles. Have the evaluator identify water paths and the surrounding masonry condition before proposing a surface treatment.
About this page
- Result
- Not published
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information: U.S. Climate Normals ↗Source checked September 10, 2026.
- National Park Service: Common Problems with Brick Masonry ↗Source checked September 10, 2026.
- NOAA Climate Prediction Center: Degree Day Summaries: Explanation ↗Source checked September 11, 2026.
- National Park Service: Preservation Briefs ↗Source checked September 10, 2026.
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