Spectral Analysis of Coincident Weather Data for Application in Building Heating, Cooling Load and Energy Consumption Calculations

Use of spectral analysis as a tool in identifying correlations of annual and diurnal patterns of weather data is presented. Results obtained with the application of this technique to the 10-yr hourly data for six variables of Fresno, Calif., in the 1952-1963 period indicate significant correlations in the annual and diurnal patterns of the variables. A method is introduced for estimating coincident diurnal patterns, which can be used in load and energy studies. Considerations in selection of representative periods of weather data for standard usage are found to require further research.