Range

The range of a set of numbers is the minimum and maximum values which represent the extremes which will be encountered.

In datasets where the extreme values might be anomalies or rogues, it may be preferable to censor the data, e.g. use the 5% and 95% percentiles as the minimum and maximum values.

Example

Minimum and maximum values are often used in climate descriptions as they define the structures and agriculture which can survive in a given location.  For example, whilst the output from a wind turbine id determined by typical operating conditions, say, 5 - 10 m/s, the structure must be designed to handle extreme conditions which might be winds in excess of 50 m/s.

The example is loosely based on two plots of monthly minimum and maximum temperatures over an single year, the first is for semi-arid area around 30 deg. North of the equator which has very hot summers with temperatures often exceeding 40 deg. C. during the day.

The second is for a sub-arctic area around 65 deg. North where extrem sub-zero temperatures are experienced during the winter.

To get a better understanding of the climate it is necessary not only to consider the extremes, but the typical values.