Are climate change reports exaggerated and making global warming seem more serious than it actually is? Global Warming Policy Foundation is a think tank based in London. It has started a large inquiry to determine if the official surface temperatures are correct. Prof Terence Kealey (a clinical biochemist and vice-chancellor of University of Buckingham) is the chairman. He has assembled an international group of statisticians, scientists, and climatologists. Global Warming Policy Foundation, (GWPF) says there have been questions about the reliability of surface temperature data and whether apparent warming trends could be due to ‘adjustments made to data after they have been gathered. The apparent warming trend has been raised by a number of alterations made to the data over the years. They have tended to warm the recent years while cooling the earlier part. (Image by ncdc.noaa.gov). The team will examine the technical difficulties in accurately measuring the surface temperature and determine if there have been adjustments to the data or their integrity. They will also assess whether the trend has been exaggerated, toned down, or overstated. GWPF is convinced that warming is true, however Prof. Kealey stated: “Many people find the extent of the adjustments to the data shocking. Although we agree that the 20th Century warming trend is real, there are concerns about claims that it is not as obvious or consistent with what has been suggested. The GWPF says that poor quality raw data has been a concern for climatologists since the beginning. To correct errors and biases in the raw data, a lot of effort was put into their adjustment. GWPF states that these adjustments have not been insignificant. “For instance, it was noted in NOAA’s temperature series for USA that the adjusted data shows a larger warming trend than raw data.” This inquiry will examine four main surface temperature series. Each series includes a variety of layers of adjustment. Panel members invite interested parties to provide evidence. The inquiry team includes Terence Kealey (chairman), Peter Chylek, Richard McNider, distinguished professor of science, Roman Mureika and Roger A Pielke Sr. (meteorologist/climatologist) and William van Wijngaarden. The Independent reports that the Global Warming Policy Foundation (UK’s largest source of denial about climate change) is the “most prominent in the country”. Update Oct 12, 2015: The Supreme Court in Britain hosted a meeting of top judges around the globe to discuss how climate deniers could be silenced.
