To investigate how climate may be changing due to human influences, scientists use weather data from as far back as the historical record goes, as long as the data are accurate. Detailed daily weather data are collected at surface meteorological stations (weather stations) throughout the world. However, several factors can limit the accuracy of the data. For example,
Many stations are in or near urban areas, which often experience warmer temperatures than the surrounding rural land. This is due to the heat absorbing properties of concrete and asphalt and the lack of shade and evaporative cooling from vegetation. This phenomenon is known as the "heat island effect."
Many weather stations have been moved from rural locations to airports, making it difficult to interpret and compare measurements over time.
Understanding and interpreting local weather data and understanding the relationship between weather and climate are important first steps to understanding larger-scale global climate changes. I agree that there are inaccurate weather reading's from airports and urban areas. So in retrospect I agree with locodawg on this one.
Re: D.C. Snowstorm: How Global Warming Makes Blizz
Member #: 61111
Registered: 8/15/2008
Posted:
1454
Name:
long johnson
Name:
Long Johnson
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myself
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fishing
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us
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late 40s
Experience:
~36 years
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