NOAA’s Official ‘Record Warm Sea Temperature Report’ Likely Not a Record After All
August 31st, 2009 by Matthew LeachNothing is set in stone regarding this new find, but it’s looking likely NOAA used incorrect data in their July Sea Surface Temperature Report claiming July’s temperatures were the warmest on record. The original news release from the NOAA can be read here
The report claiming NOAA’s report is false can be read here (it’s pretty technical!). NOAA still hasn’t put out a statement regarding this find by Dr. Roy Spencer. If they do, I’ll be sure to do a follow-up story on it.
Matthew Leach
Forecasting Kitsap
Questions? Comments? E-mail me at: forecastingkitsap@live.com
7 DAY FORECAST
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
August 31st, 2009 at 1:40 pm
There is an explanation and a link in the comments from ‘Cold Lynx’ (the 7th commenter I believe). I’m not a climate scientists myself but it looks like they report temperatures as a difference from the average, and they adjust the average every ten years based on the new data. Since the new average only affects newly collected data and not the historical data, you’d expect a statistically significant change at the beginning of every decade like the one Dr. Spencer found.
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/sst/papers/xue-etal.pdf
August 31st, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Matt,
Wattsupwiththat is one of the worst anti-science sites on the web. Virtually nothing can be taken seriously there. Roy Spencer is also in the extreme minority.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Spencer of “the extreme minority” has discovered his error and posted an explanation at WUWT, “one of the worst anti-science sites.”
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/08/31/spencer-always-question-your-results/
Having regularly visited that site for quite a while, I have a completely different opinion of its credibility and of its respect for the true scientific method.
September 1st, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Bob—Thanks for that link. I’ll do a follow up post soon.
Cameron—That statement is all a matter of opinion. I’m sure there are many who would differ.
Drekab—Thanks!
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:41 pm
You might consider this video examining Anthony Watt before taking him seriously:
http://climateprogress.org/2009/07/29/the-video-that-anthony-watts-does-not-want-you-to-see-the-sinclair-climate-denial-crock-of-the-week/