gary lawrence murphy garymcanadacom say hello cool oooo going cause stir httpwwwatmosuaheduesslmsubackgroundhtml received via httpontarioindymediaorg8081frontphp3article_id12280 using satellites monitor global climate change earth system science laboratory university alabama huntsville additional information dr john christy associate professor atmospheric science earth system science laboratory university alabama huntsville phone 205 9225763 email christyatmosuahedu dr roy spencer space scientist global hydrology climate center nasamarshall space flight center phone 205 9225960 email royspencermsfcnasagov summary part ongoing nasauah joint project dr john christy uah dr roy spencer nasas marshall space flight center use data gathered microwave sounding units msus national oceanic atmospheric administration tirosn satellites get accurate direct measurements atmospheric temperatures almost regions earth including remote deserts rain forests oceans reliable temperature data otherwise available accuracy reliability temperature data gathered satellites since january 1979 confirmed comparing satellite data independent temperature data recent study 1 found 97 percent agreement msu data temperatures measured thermometers suspended beneath weather balloons released meteorologists weather observations monthly temperature data collected satellites processed placed public computer file immediate access atmospheric scientists us abroad become basis number major studies global climate change cited reports intergovernmental panel climate change gathering data traditional thermometers measure temperature specific point air microwave sounding unit satellite takes readings average temperatures huge volume atmosphere 30000 readings per day per satellite average temperature 75000 cubic kilometers air msu makes direct measurement temperature looking microwaves emitted oxygen molecules atmosphere intensity microwave emissions brightness varies according temperature christy spencer developed method take data several satellites produce unified temperature dataset verifying accuracy msu measurements recent comparison 1 temperature readings two major climate monitoring systems microwave sounding units satellites thermometers suspended helium balloons found remarkable level agreement two verify accuracy temperature data collected microwave sounding units christy compared temperature readings recorded radiosonde thermometers temperatures reported satellites orbited balloon launch sites found 97 percent correlation 16year period study overall composite temperature trends sites agreed within 003 degrees celsius 0054 fahrenheit per decade results found considering stations polar arctic regions idea determine reliability satellite data comparing established independent measurement christy said satellite data reliable satellites radiosonde sites means able trust everywhere else 99 radiosondes reported aggregate warming trend 0155 degrees celsius 028 fahrenheit per decade since 1979 99 spots globe satellites also recorded warming trend 0128 degrees celsius 023 fahrenheit per decade globally however satellite data show cooling trend 003 degrees celsius per decade since first noaa tirosn satellites went service 99 radiosonde launch sites distributed evenly around planet christy said representative total globe radiosonde balloons released stations around world usually noon midnight greenwich standard time balloon climbs surface stratosphere temperature measured relayed ground radio 1000 radiosonde launch sites globally data many sites either readily available consistently collected christy used data 99 sites longterm systematic reliable data collection 99 radiosonde launch sites box bounded iceland trinidad truk island alaska earlier study upper air temperature record compiled noaa 63 daily weather balloon sites around world indicated 17year climate trend 005 c per decade exact agreement satellite data time christy said global coverage one advantage msu dataset global coverage microwave sounding units aboard noaa satellites directly measure temperature atmosphere 95 percent globe satellite measures temperature points earth every 12 hours global temperature frequently reported surface measurements neither global extent systematic measurement method neglects vast oceanic continental regions including antarctica brazilian rain forests sahara desert greenland commonly cited historical temperature dataset groundbased thermometers 5000 thermometers worldwide provide almost instantaneous local temperature data links weather services scientists thermometers usually small shelters five feet ground areas easily accessible people us industrial countries thermometers often found airports groundbased network extensive north america europe russia china japan less comprehensive africa south america australia across much southern asia temperatures surface vertically atmosphere gathered daily thermometers carried aloft helium balloons radiosonde balloons released stations around world usually noon midnight greenwich standard time balloon release sites scattered throughout world concentrated industrial nations 1000 radiosonde launch sites globally evenly distributed around world would equal approximately one every 195000 square miles earths surface water temperatures used derive estimates atmospheric temperatures come thermometers piers buoys aboard ships opportunity ships record temperature water drawn cool engines water temperature data instruments also global coverage tending instead concentrated heavilytravelled shipping lanes harbors past 12 years new system approximately 100 deep ocean buoys established gathering atmospheric water temperature data instrument accuracy msu nine satellites measuring temperature periods one six years method devised merge data single consistent time series satellite bias calculated removed would introduce spurious trends biases calculated directly comparing satellite others operation time periods overlapping operation ranged three months three years sufficient determine biases msu instruments stable many thousands observations biases satellites known within 001 deg final product removes biases data referenced common base 2 check final product comparisons made 16year period balloon measurements stated phenomenal agreement provided independent validation necessary conclude merging technique developed dataset accurate instrument accuracy groundbased thermometers great concern scientists lack consistency way readings taken thermometer surroundings since thermometers longterm records exist towns cities effects population growth construction nearby roads parking lots runways buildings may cause temperature rise little due urbanization temperature change may artifact local asphalt effect rather longterm widespread climate change instrument accuracy ships opportunity temperature data collected ships sea reported sea surface temperature data reflects water temperatures three 60 feet surface level water drawn ships thousands individual thermometers used collect data calibrated scientific standard method verifying accuracy either thermometers reports matching temperature readings specific times places places many overlapping observations confidence accuracy scientists 1996 spencer christy received american meteorological societys special award honored developing global precise record earths temperature operational polarorbiting satellites fundamentally advancing ability monitor climate ams special awards given individuals organizations appropriately recognized specificallydefined awards made important contributions science practice meteorology society 1991 spencer christy received nasas exceptional scientific achievement medal dr john christy christy began scientific career senior research associate uah 1987 earning ba 1973 mathematics california state universityfresno mdiv 1978 golden gate baptist theological seminary ms 1984 phd 1987 degrees atmospheric sciences university illinois instructor mathematics parkland college champaign il 198387 instructor mathematics university south dakota 198182 instructor mathematical sciences yankton sd college 198081 also served pastor grace baptist church vermillion sd 197882 science master baptist high school nyeri kenya 197375 published 20 refereed scientific papers christy serves noaa national scientific review panel national climatic data center noaas pathfinder review panel invited key contributor 1995 intergovernmental panel climate changes scientific assessment climate change served contributor 1992 1994 ipcc reports dr roy spencer spencer began career research associate space science engineering center madison wi 1981 earning bs 1978 meteorology university michigan ms 1979 phd 1981 degrees meteorology university wisconsinmadison universities space research association visiting scientist msfc 198487 joining msfc staff 1987 us team leader multichannel microwave imaging radiometer team served numerous committees relating remote sensing directs program involving satellite aircraft passive microwave data build global climate data sets address climate research issues spencer lead author sixteen scientific papers bibliography 1 jr christy 1995 climatic change vol 31 pp 455474 2 jr christy rw spencer rt mcnider 1995 journal climate vol 8 pp 888896 rw spencer jr christy nc grody 1990 journal climate vol 3 pp 1111128 rw spencer jr christy 1992 journal climate vol 5 pp 858 see also httpsciencenasagovnewhomeheadlinesessd5feb97_1htm httpsciencenasagovnewhomeheadlinesnotebookessd13aug98_1htm httpwwwghccmsfcnasagovmsuhl_measuretemphtm httpwwwatmosuaheduatmoschristyhtml gary lawrence murphy garymteledyncom teledynamics communications blog httpwwwauracomcomteledyn biz httpteledyncom computers useless give answers picasso 23 sep 2002 010753 0400 goodbye global warming