Climate Observations Are they the truth? · Global mean temperature trend : 1880 - 2007 (source...

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Andrew WatsonRegional Director

Bureau of Meteorology : South Australian Regional Office

Climate Q & A: The Skeptical Questions and Scientific Answers : 8 August 2008

Climate ObservationsClimate ObservationsAre they the truth?Are they the truth?

Bureau of MeteorologyAustralia’s National Meteorological Service

Meteorology Act (1955) has as its highest priority ; “the taking and recording of meteorological observations … for thepurposes of meteorology.” Bureau holds the national climate database

Bureau instrumentation abides by WMO standards Temperature sensors (thermometers) tolerance < 0.4C Rainfall sensors (rain gauges) tolerance < 6%

All instruments are checked and re-calibrated every 6 months

New technologies (past 10 – 15 years) are more accurate thanconventional recording methods

Instrument exposures strictly adhered to at Climate Reference Stations “Stephenson Screen” at 1.2 m above ground, oriented north-south No shielding by structures, trees, allowing for free air flow Rain gauge at 0.3 m above ground, no obstruction within 1: 2 slope

South Australian ReferenceSouth Australian ReferenceClimate StationsClimate Stations

= Field Stations= Co-op Stations= Rainfall Stations = AWS= Hydro Stations= Tide Gauges

= Reference Climate Station

Ceduna Meteorological Office Instrument Enclosure

Woomera Meteorological Office Instrument Enclosure

Adelaide Airport Meteorological Office Instrument Enclosure

Mt Gambier Meteorological Office Instrument Enclosure

Temperature, rainfall trends, Ceduna : 1956 - 2007 (source BOM)

y = -1.2758x + 321.37

y = 0.0134x + 23.157

y = 0.006x + 10.319

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Temperature, rainfall trends, Woomera : 1950 - 2007 (source BOM)

y = -0.7541x + 206.79

y = 0.0225x + 25.052

y = 0.019x + 12.123

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Temperature, rainfall trends, Mt Gambier : 1953 - 2007 (source BOM)

y = 0.4464x + 684.29

y = 0.015x + 18.632

y = 0.0255x + 7.4586

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Rain Max Temp Min Temp Linear (Rain) Linear (Max Temp) Linear (Min Temp)

Temperature, rainfall trends, Adelaide Airport : 1956 - 2007 (source BOM)

y = -0.2404x + 452.17

y = 0.0152x + 21.04

y = 0.0213x + 10.777

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South Australian mean temperature trend : 1910 – 2007 (source BOM)

Australian Temperature TrendsAustralian Temperature Trends

National mean temperature trend : 1910 - 2007 (source BoM)

Maximum temperature trends (0C/10yrs), Australia : 1910 - 2007 (source BOM)

Maximum temperature trends (0C/10yrs), Australia : 1950 - 2007 (source BOM)

Minimum temperature trends (0C/10yrs), Australia : 1910 - 2007 (source BOM)

Minimum temperature trends (0C/10yrs), Australia : 1950 - 2007 (source BOM)

Global Temperature MeasurementsGlobal Temperature Measurements

Global mean temperature trend : 1880 - 2007 (source NOAA)

Australian Rainfall TrendsAustralian Rainfall Trends

Spatial rainfall trends (mm/10yrs), Australia : 1900 - 2007 (source BOM)

Spatial rainfall trends (mm/10yrs), Australia : 1950 - 2007 (source BOM)

Australian Evaporation TrendsAustralian Evaporation Trends

Spatial evaporation trends (mm/yr), Australia : 1970 - 2007 (source BOM)

Atmospheric Air PressureAtmospheric Air Pressure and Rainfall Trends and Rainfall Trends

Autumn Mean Sea Level Pressure, rainfall trends, Ceduna : 1956 - 2007 (source BOM)

y = 0.0334x + 1017.3

y = -1.0267x + 94.997

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Rain MSLP Linear (MSLP) Linear (Rain)

MSLP vs Rain :

Correlation : -0.60

Winter Mean Sea Level Pressure, rainfall trends, Ceduna : 1956 - 2007 (source BOM)

y = 0.0173x + 1019.1

y = -0.3274x + 113.59

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Rain MSLP Linear (MSLP) Linear (Rain)

MSLP vs Rain :

Correlation : -0.66

10161016

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Autumn MSLP Pattern, 1956 - 1965

Autumn MSLP Pattern, 1998 - 2007

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Winter MSLP Pattern, 1956 - 1965

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Winter MSLP Pattern, 1998 - 2007

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Average Annual Rainfall : South Australia

300 mm

300 mm

10% reduction in annual rainfall : South Australia

300 mm

300 mm

20% reduction in annual rainfall : South Australia

300 mm

300 mm

30% reduction in annual rainfall : South Australia

300 mm

300 mm

Thank youThank you

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