Surface Stations project Anthony Watts (blogger)

an example of photograph taken volunteer surface stations project, identifies several alleged issues location of weather station. photograph used in report watts published heartland institute in 2009.

in 2007, watts launched surface stations project, encouraging volunteers take photographs of weather stations in u.s. historical climatology network record condition. 2009, around 650 volunteers had reported on around 70% of 1,221 stations, , suggested below or best reliability. in march 2009 heartland institute published illustrated report authored watts, in argued surface temperature record in united states inaccurate , actual temperature lower reported. watts presented pictures volunteers participating through website show many surface weather stations situated near artificial heat sources such pavement , air conditioners, did not show comparison of data these sites , data situated stations.

the national oceanic , atmospheric administration (noaa) investigated matter. while acknowledging suboptimal conditions of many stations, noaa concluded in 2010 bias had been eliminated models, compared stations on regions , time. limited extent there measurement bias, in opposite direction of watts expected: stations considered poorly situated reported cooler temperatures.

this graph shows temperature record 1218 stations in noaa’s historical climatology network (ushcn) 1950 2009, alongside record 70 stations identified or best in watts report published heartland institute.

watts co-author climatologists john nielsen-gammon, john christy , roger a. pielke, sr. on paper souleymane fall lead author, found mean temperature trends identical between poorly sited , well-sited stations, poor siting led difference in estimated diurnal temperature range. poorly positioned stations led overestimate of trends in minimum temperatures, balanced similar underestimate of maximum temperature trends. meant mean temperature trends identical across stations.

best project, alleged doubling of trend noaa

in march 2011 watts visited berkeley earth temperature project (best), , said m prepared accept whatever result produce, if proves premise wrong. in october project released data , draft of paper produced results supporting existing scientific consensus. watts said methodology flawed, complaining best study analyzed larger period own research, , not yet peer reviewed. richard a. muller, founder of best, later said study directly addressed watts concern condition of weather stations; discovered station quality not affect results. poor stations reflected temperature changes accurately.

around 22 july 2012, watts heard best project release further material, , decided release paper , evan jones had been working on year. on 27 july blogged wuwt suspended until noon on 29 july: major announcement coming . new york times published summary of further draft results best, including announcement muller study showed humans entirely cause of warming. shortly afterwards, watts announced own team s draft paper said reported temperature rises had been spuriously doubled , , made serious accusation noaa had inflated rate erroneous adjustments data. climate scientists , other bloggers found flaws in paper. steve mcintyre, watts had named co-author, stressed involvement had been last minute , limited . agreed criticisms including point watts had failed correct time of observation bias, , noted independent satellite temperature measurements closer noaa figures.

in 2012 best released series of peer-reviewed papers confirming previous results surface temperature rising.