Comparing Climate and Weather A Model U.S. Climate Reference Network Station LuAnn Dahlman NOAA Climate Program Office ESIP Federation Summer Meeting, July 12, 2011
1971 — Annual 4 th of July Picnic — Minneapolis, Minnesota
Hi: 74 Lo: 44 Pcp: 0 11 Hi: 72 Lo: 45 Pcp: 0 8 Hi: 62 Lo: 58 Pcp: 0.61” 9 Hi: 64 Lo: 58 Pcp: 0.09” 6 Hi: 86 Lo: 66 Pcp: 0 7 Hi: 82 Lo: 61 Pcp: 0 5 Hi: 82 Lo: 61 Pcp: 0 4 Hi: 84 Lo: 66 Pcp: 0 10 Hi: 74 Lo: 36 Pcp: 0 15 Hi: 86 Lo: 64 Pcp: 0 14 Hi: 85 Lo: 68 Pcp: 0 13 Hi: 85 Lo: 66 Pcp: 0 17 Hi: 81 Lo: 66 Pcp: 0 16 Hi: 84 Lo: 68 Pcp: 0 18 Hi: 82 Lo: 61 Pcp: 0 19 Hi: 82 Lo: 61 Pcp: 0 July
1972 — 4 th of July Picnic — Minneapolis, Minnesota
1980 — 4 th of July Picnic — Minneapolis, Minnesota
1990 — Annual 4 th of July Picnic — Minneapolis, Minnesota
2000 — Annual 4 th of July Picnic — Minneapolis, Minnesota
What has Charlie been measuring for 30 years? a.Climate b.Climate and Weather c.Weather
What is Charlie calculating? a.Climate b.Climate and Weather c.Weather
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Climate normals for Minneapolis,
Compared to 2010 weather
Climate normals for Minneapolis, Compared to 2009 weather
Climate normals for Minneapolis, Compared to 2008 weather
Multigraph Climate Explorer
Climate normals for Minneapolis, Historically, three consecutive decades of weather observations have been used to describe climate
Now anticipating release of 30-year Climate Normals for 1981 – 2010 For Minneapolis, January minimums have increased by almost 3°F July maximums have decreased by about 0.5°F
Weather is what’s happening outside your window Atmospheric conditions that you can see, feel, or measure are weather.
Climate can be described by words or numbers, but you cannot touch it Temperature Statistics Dynamic normals based on fewer than 30 years are also being used to make comparisons
Temperature Statistics And though climate is often characterized by temperature alone…
Climate is really a multi-faceted concept
Decide if each of the following phrases describes climate or weather. Climate? or Weather?
Tells us what kind of clothes to wear Climate? or Weather?
Tells us what kind of clothes to wear Climate? or Weather
Tells us what kind of clothes to buy Climate? or Weather?
Tells us what kind of clothes to buy Climate? or Weather?
The picture that comes to your mind when you think of a faraway place Climate? or Weather?
The picture that comes to your mind when you think of a faraway place
California usually has a winter storm during the last week of December Climate? or Weather?
California usually has a winter storm during the last week of December Climate? or Weather?
How reliable do you think our weather records are for characterizing climate? A-Not reliable B-Somewhat reliable C-Very reliable D-Extremely reliable
U.S. Climate Reference Network Station
A quick look at the data: US Climate Reference Network Home page
How reliable do you think US Climate Reference Network records are for characterizing climate? 1-Not reliable 2-Somewhat reliable 3-Very reliable 4-Extremely reliable
NOAA also supports networks of instruments on buoys. These gather data from the depths of the ocean and at its surface
Human efforts facilitate and complement automated data collection
We launch weather balloons to learn about conditions in the lower atmosphere
Balloons and rockets carry data-gathering instruments into the upper atmosphere
and instruments on satellites monitor Earth’s status from orbit
From the bottom of the ocean to the top of the atmosphere, we monitor Earth’s climate system
Presentation prepared by LuAnn Dahlman, NOAA Climate Program Office Educators are welcome to share this electronic file.