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A widely shared X post with more than 87500 views and 4200 likes raised concern that Climate change is a scam and in the UK this concept is highlighted because of fraudulent manipulated data from various sources.
Claim 1: A Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed that 103 out of 302 temperature recording devices across the UK don’t actually exist or are not in use.
Fact: Unsubstantiated due to the absence of verifiable information from an FOI request indicating that 103 out of 302 temperature recording devices in the UK are nonexistent or inactive.
Met Office Weather Station Network:
The Met Office operates a comprehensive network of weather stations across the UK, comprising over 200 automatic stations. These stations measure various meteorological parameters, including air temperature, atmospheric pressure, rainfall, wind speed and direction, humidity, cloud height, and visibility. Stations are typically spaced about 40 km apart to effectively monitor weather patterns associated with low-pressure and frontal systems traversing the UK.
Addressing the Allegations:
The Met Office has acknowledged that some weather stations have closed over time. However, the data collected from these stations over the years remains valuable. To ensure the continuity and accuracy of climate records, scientists employ data from nearby, well-correlated stations to maintain long-term climate trend analyses. This practice is standard in climatology and does not equate to data fabrication.
Claim 2: Temperatures recorded have been used by ‘merging data’ based on estimates.
Fact: The claim suggests that the UK Met Office has been “inventing” temperature data by merging estimates from inactive or non-existent weather stations. To assess this, it’s essential to understand the Met Office’s data collection and processing methodologies.
Met Office Data Collection and Processing:
The Met Office operates a comprehensive network of weather stations across the UK, collecting data on various meteorological parameters. This data is integrated into their Unified Model, a numerical weather prediction and climate modeling system. The Unified Model assimilates observations from multiple sources, including satellites, ground stations, buoys, radar, weather balloons, wind profilers, and commercial aircraft. This assimilation process adjusts the model towards observations without forcing it to accept potentially inaccurate data, ensuring stability and reliability in forecasts
Handling Incomplete Data:
In scenarios where direct observations are unavailable—such as inactive or decommissioned stations—the Met Office employs data assimilation techniques to estimate conditions in those areas. This involves integrating available observations into the model to produce comprehensive analyses and forecasts. The Unified Model, for instance, uses a hybrid 4D-Var data assimilation method to incorporate observations, maintaining model stability and accuracy.
Claim 3: The hottest day ever reported was based on a device installed next to a solar farm in Chertsey.
Fact: Incorrect, as the UK’s highest temperature was recorded in Lincolnshire, not Chertsey.
Investigations have revealed that the Chertsey weather station is situated amid a field of solar panels, which could potentially influence temperature readings due to localized heating effects. The UK’s highest recorded temperature occurred on July 19, 2022, when the Met Office verified a temperature of 40.3°C (104.5°F) at Coningsby, Lincolnshire. There is no official record indicating that this measurement was taken near a solar farm in Chertsey. It’s important to note that the Met Office has stringent criteria for siting weather stations to avoid heat sources that could bias temperature readings. While urbanization and local heat sources can influence measurements, the Met Office endeavors to account for such factors to maintain data integrity.
References:
Chertsey Abbey Mead DCNN 5239- The Rise of Solar
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