Do climatological averages serve adequately as normals?

A discussion of the objections to the use of the arithmetical average or mean as a parameter to express the normal climatological values; as normal rainfall, normal temperature or the percent normal. The normal value should represent the most common value of a series with a probability of being equaled or exceeded approximately 50% of the time. The infallibility of this occurrence is illustrated in an array of tabulated data. It is suggested that another parameter be used to express the normal values from a series; the median; the mode; the geometric mean; or the harmonic mean. It is further suggested that in speaking about the arithmetic average or mean that the term normal not be used.This matter became a resolution to the Secretary of the Section of Hydrology of the American Geophysical Union for a nationwide acceptance.