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Look at that chart, we changed the way we measure temperature in the 1960's with the introduction of digital thermometers. Prior to that we utilized mercury or

Look at that chart, we changed the way we measure temperature in the 1960's with the introduction of digital thermometers. Prior to that we utilized mercury or worse alcohol. The chart itself raises the question(s) I just highlighted. Further, prior to WWII there was not "global monitoring" of temperature; let's highlight this comment: > Remarkably, despite the differences in methodologies used by these independent researchers, their global temperature estimates are all in close agreement Let's assume that's true (which I would argue is not true), even "similar" results will have a 2-5% fluctuation -- which is the entire range of the increase in temperatures. If something reads 98.2 one year and the prior reading is 97.3 we have a 0.9 increase in temperature, but in reality it could be the margin of error based on cloud cover or a change in instrumentation. We simply don't know. The article you linked admits as such: > Each organization uses different techniques to make its estimates and adjusts its input data sets to compensate for changes in observing conditions, using data processing methods described in peer-reviewed literature.

rjtavares 3y ago
> If something reads 98.2 one year and the prior reading is 97.3 we have a 0.9 increase in temperature, but in reality it could be the margin of error based on cloud cover or a change in instrumentation. That would be true if we had only two measurements. But it can't explain the trend over the last 40 years (neither can the introduction of digital thermometers in the 60s).
- lettergram 3y ago
  There are a multitude of things simultaneously that need to be considered: 1. The sun naturally has cycles where it increases and decreases in temp 2. The measurement devices we use have changed over time 3. The location of our measurements have changed over time 4. We only have 120-160 datapoints total for yearly averages.. with the above issues associated. Because of those points it’s hard to make any absolute claims, besides the argument since 1960s the trend is slightly upwards in terms of temperatures , maybe.
  - tgv 3y ago
    Have you looked out of the window recently? Noticed anything odd?

rjtavares 3y ago

> If something reads 98.2 one year and the prior reading is 97.3 we have a 0.9 increase in temperature, but in reality it could be the margin of error based on cloud cover or a change in instrumentation. That would be true if we had only two measurements. But it can't explain the trend over the last 40 years (neither can the introduction of digital thermometers in the 60s).

lettergram 3y ago
There are a multitude of things simultaneously that need to be considered: 1. The sun naturally has cycles where it increases and decreases in temp 2. The measurement devices we use have changed over time 3. The location of our measurements have changed over time 4. We only have 120-160 datapoints total for yearly averages.. with the above issues associated. Because of those points it’s hard to make any absolute claims, besides the argument since 1960s the trend is slightly upwards in terms of temperatures , maybe.
- tgv 3y ago
  Have you looked out of the window recently? Noticed anything odd?