>I think both side and top insulation, but especially top insulation in my configurations changes the dynamics of the winter cluster by reshaping it. Bees clustered against the top have flattened the traditional spherical shape.

That is exactly what I am seeing. The cluster is a hemisphere either using the top surface (~15R) as the flat surface of a hemisphere. It reduces the exposed surface areas. I ran some theoretical numbers for the same number of bees. In the 1st picture (right side), top is the calc for the surface area of a sphere, lower calc HE is the hemisphere Surf Area, LE is the area of the flat circle. You get about 20% less exposed area. Also based on the estimated isotherms extrapolated from my 12 sensors (single) and 20 sensors (double) the effective exposure the higher up you are would be much less stressful (heat rises maintaining reasonable Ts in the upper area of the box.

I have about 100,000 measure sensor Ts this season and 200,000 calculated values I don't mind sharing the values/logics if someone wants to "review" my calc approach. My goal was to stay away from more complicated approaches and use typical behind the envelop approximations. The R2 above 0.9 tells me they are good enough in relating Toutside Vs Area/RSI x (Tin wall average - Tout)

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