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Monitoring global monthly mean surface temperaturesThe accuracy of the global surface air temperature (SST) estimates for a particular month over the past decade is assessed using all of the in situ observations available today. The sources of noise in the data, the numbers of observations, and the spatial coverage are appraised for the comparison with the climate signal, and different analyzed results are compared to determine their reproducibility. The data are further evaluated by comparing anomalies of near-global monthly mean surface temperatures with those of global satellite channel 2 microwave sounding unit temperatures for 144 months from 1979 to 1990. The results indicate that the inherent noise level in an SST observation is about 1.0 C, and this is compounded when the observation is made in regions of large temperature gradient.
Document ID
19930040007
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Trenberth, Kevin E.
(NCAR Boulder, CO, United States)
Christy, John R.
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, United States)
Hurrell, James W.
(NCAR Boulder, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
December 1, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Climate
Volume: 5
Issue: 12
ISSN: 0894-8755
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
93A24004
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASA ORDER W-17214
CONTRACT_GRANT: NASA ORDER W-17661
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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