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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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Rain Max Temp Min Temp Linear (Rain) Linear (Max Temp) Linear (Min Temp)
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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Deg
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Rain Max Temp Min Temp Linear (Rain) Linear (Max Temp) Linear (Min Temp)
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
10081008
10101010
10121012
10141014
HH
LL
Autumn MSLP Pattern, 1956 - 1965
Autumn MSLP Pattern, 1998 - 2007
10181018
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LL
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Winter MSLP Pattern, 1956 - 1965
10181018
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10141014
HH
Winter MSLP Pattern, 1998 - 2007
10181018
10161016
10121012
10141014
LL
10161016
10201020HH
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
