Learn me on Very Large Thermometers

ThatGuyFromThatPlace · Post by **ThatGuyFromThatPlace** » 2007-07-05 04:19pm

I've been wondering, How exactly is the Global Mean Temperature devised? apparently they don't just take readings from all of the weather stations and calculate the mean. but how exactly do they do it? What readings are takena nd what calculations made, I know they compensate for the Urban Heat island effect, but do they compensate the readings for any other phenomena?

Just interested, all those sites like Realclimate like to say that I just don't understand how the temperature change is being arrived at, but they won't tell me how it is being arrived at.

Bonus points for linking sites I can find the information on myself.
Bonus points and cookies if you can find the actual math/equations used.

For the record, I don't doubt that the Earth is Warming, so don't try and turn this into a 'global warming is real because scientists say so' thread because that's not what I'm after.

CaptJodan · Post by **CaptJodan** » 2007-07-05 04:41pm

Don't satellites also play a role, ie thermal imaging? Or are they not sensitive enough for single digit changes?

Incidentally, I don't come close to the level of peversion that many others on this board experience, but the title of this thread set off my high tolerance peversion meter.

ThatGuyFromThatPlace · Post by **ThatGuyFromThatPlace** » 2007-07-05 06:44pm

CaptJodan wrote:Don't satellites also play a role, ie thermal imaging? Or are they not sensitive enough for single digit changes?

Incidentally, I don't come close to the level of peversion that many others on this board experience, but the title of this thread set off my high tolerance peversion meter.

That's the kind of thing I want to know...

also, pretty much every other thread titile I could think of had various connotations for or against Global Warming, which I wanted to avoid, so you get the 'perverted' one I guess.

ThatGuyFromThatPlace · Post by **ThatGuyFromThatPlace** » 2007-07-08 04:40pm

so the best the August members of this forum can come up with is 'yea, there's some weather stations and like, maybe satellites?'

that's a little disturbing then.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2007-07-08 05:18pm

Maybe we don't really give a fuck to answer the question? Go do some research yourself.

ThatGuyFromThatPlace · Post by **ThatGuyFromThatPlace** » 2007-07-08 08:34pm

Wow, thank you for setting me straight like that, I will go out and immediately begin researching this problem...

Oh, Wait, I already did. The answer I got seems fishy and I'd like independent confirmation from people with more free-time/google-fu/access to climate scientists/access to peer reviewed meteorological journals etc. than myself.

If you can't be assed to help then don't, you don't need to try and tell me off from your oh-so-high horse.

D.Turtle · Post by **D.Turtle** » 2007-07-09 07:43pm

Seeing as you already know about RealClimate.Org, why don't you do the smart thing and ask the people who should know about it: The climate scientists at RealClimate.Org?