T

Temperature corrections

Posted by Frank Lansner (frank) on 7th February, 2010
T >>

A lot of scientific work are carried out using temperature data – assuming that the datasets like GISS/Hadcrut etc are correct. Sciences depending on temperature data are typically predictions of future temperatures, sea level rise and estimations of the CO2 heat effect. Science and articles especially in the climate debate are demanded to be ”peer reviewed”. But reality is, that the fundament for this science – the temperature records – is created in a process neither ”peer reviewed” nor even published.

We see the overall outcome of adjustments to results in lower 1940 temperatures than today’s temperatures and not really a sound explanation why adjustments always boosts the trend of global warming after 1940.

 

A typical explanation for the necessity of the adjustments that boosts the warming trend in temperature graphs is ”TOBS”.

“Time of OBServation”. If the time on the day where the measurement is taken has been changed, then there might be a reason to adjust for this new procedure as temperatures are not the same 24 hours a day.

- But how can you explain an overall global change in trend due to ”time of OBServation” ??

 This would mean that world wide the time of observation has been changed in the same way all over the world by completely different countries and institutions. For instance in 1940 - 50 - 60 - 70 - 80 - 90 there was no climate-debate-cooperation for these measurements. What time temperatures was taken in Peru, Finland and China where in no way coordinated. So how come there should be some world wide common shift in time of observation? This has never been documented.

 

Likewise, the altitude for the temperature measurements is used to explain that warming adjustments has to be done. Again – all these countries and institutions all over the world just happends to place their measuring stations at higher an higher altitude so that 1940 temperature has to be adjusted down? Again, no documentation for such an idea.

 

NOAA: The list of overwhelmingly odd temperature corrections lowering 1940 temperatures while lifting today’s temperatures appears endless. Above is the NOAA example for USA.

Left: In 1999 corrections for 1999 has been adjusted up 0,3 degrees Celsius compared to 1940.

Right: In 2008 NOAA one correction even pushes temperatures around year 2000 0,1 degrees Celsius further up compared to 1940.

http://icecap.us/images/uploads/US_Temperatures_and_Climate_Factors_since_1895.pdf

 

So, NOAA has decided to adjust measured US temperatures with 0,4 degrees Celsius today compared to 1940.

Please remember that the whole warming after 1940 is (by GISS and others) estimated to be 0,4-0,5 degrees Celsius. So for the temperature set with the highest quality in the world to begin with – the US temperature set – the whole global warming trend is made by adjustments to what was in fact measured. Is this not relevant?

 

GHCN corrections, again recent temperatures adjustes around 0,4 degrees K up compared t0 1930-40:

 http://noconsensus.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/long-record-ghcn-analysis/

 

Here a few examples where GISS has changes US temperatures as follows::

 

<br><i>ClimateAudit ”Yk2 error”. </i> 0,15 degrees Celsius was added to data after year 2000, but it was discovered by the Canadian mathematician, Steve McIntyre, and this change was withdrawn by GISS. This took place in 2007.

 

 

<p>An example of how its going with ”transparency” of temperature data for NOAA/GHCN we can check out this dataset of ”Unadjusted data” at our disposal, here Central Park, New York. But if you compare these ”unadjusted data” with the original raw data from the temperature station, there is a difference worth mentioning:

 

 

GHCNs officially ”Unadjusted data” are adjusted after all by adding heat to the trend. Year 2000 adjusted about 0,5 Celsius up compared to 1940 and adjusted up a full degree Celsius compared to year 1900.

 

Why does NOAA operate with an ”unadjusted dataset ” that are in fact adjusted? What is the purpose?

 

This is the real problem for temperature data: You cannot access real raw data from neither NOAA/GHCN, GISS or CRU.

How can this be? What is the purpose?

 

Last changed: 8th March, 2010 at 13:45:19

Back

Comments

None Found

Add Comment