Recorded presentation2.1
A Re-Examination of the Surface Air Temperature Record over the Arctic Ocean from 1980 to the Present
Axel J. Schweiger, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; and I. Rigor, H. Stern, and R. W. Lindsay
Differences in gridded global temperature anomaly data sets for the last decade show significant differences that are due to the treatment of the sparse Arctic station network and extrapolation to fill gaps over the ice-covered Arctic Ocean. Surface temperature records for this region exist from buoys and drifting station as well as from satellites for the past 30 years, however, significant uncertainties exist with respect to this record. In an effort to reconcile the Arctic temperature record we re-examine and intercompare these existing records to identify biases and differences in trends over the recent decades. Buoy and drifting station data are intercompared with satellite and reanalysis data to assess relative errors and identify particular problems. Different buoy designs are examined for the effect of sensor location, snow-burial, and solar heating. Attempts to homogenize the observation record are presented. Effects of this homogenization on the temperature trends are examined.
Session 2, Polar Weather and Climate Variations (Present): Part 2
Monday, 18 May 2009, 10:30 AM-12:00 PM, Capitol Ballroom AB
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