Climate data Information

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http://www.climatedata.info

A lot of data on climate and climate change are available on the internet but they are not presented in a way which makes them easy to understand. Where climate data are available in a digestible form they are often being used to support one side or the other of highly polarised positions. We are trying to prove only one thing: rational debate is possible when participants have access to the facts. On this site you will find graphs, explanation and data related to essential aspects of climate change. Everything can be downloaded for free and the data files can be input directly to spreadsheets on Windows, Macintosh and UNIX operating systems.

 The climate information and data are available in the following subject areas:
* Temperature - observed and climate model simulations of Global, European and American temperature.
* Precipitation - observed and climate model simulations of Global, European and American precipitation.
* Greenhouse Gases - variation of CO2 and methane over time and a break-down of CO2 by source and geographical origin; the influence of greenhouse gases on climate.
* Proxy data: (i) Ice Cores - Antarctic, Arctic and glaciers with temperature and other data for 100s of thousands of years. (ii) Tree Rings - data from northern and southern hemisphere countries with temperature estimates for 100s of years.
* Natural Climate Forcing - albedo (reflectivity) of earth; orbital variations (Milankovitch cycles) ; sun-spots; El Niňo and other oscillations; radio-sonde temperature profiles.
* Climate Impacts - Global sea level; snow cover, Arctic and Antarctic sea ice; tropical cyclones; polar bears.

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Estimation of sea level change

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Estimation of sea level change

Global sea levels have traditionally been estimated from tide gauges. As can be imagined they show fluctuations of several meters due to tide and wave action. Identifying sea level changes of a few millimetres a year against this background “noise” is problematic. Since 1993, data are available from satellites. There are two other factors which add to the difficulty of estimate changes in sea level. The first is the way the earth has reacted to the melting of the ice caps. Where major ice melt has taken place, in northern Europe and North America for example, land levels have risen; the post glacial rebound (PGR). Conversely where sea levels have risen and encroached on previously dry areas, land levels have fallen; glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA). (Some sources use the two terms interchangeably) These changes typically average around 4 mm/decade but can be higher in some locations. The second factor is the influence of atmospheric pressure. The changes in pressure can be seasonal and modify levels by 1 metre; often an allowance is made for these pressure difference by applying what is called “an inverted barometer.” As can be seen the adjustments to be made to sea level are of a similar order of magnitude to change in sea level itself. It is generally considered that the rate of change of sea level cannot be accurately estimated for periods of less than 10 years.

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