Where Do Climate Change Research Get Accurate Data?

The study of climate change is heavily reliant on accurate and reliable data. This data, which includes measurements and monitoring of air and water temperatures across the planet, is crucial for understanding and addressing the challenges of climate change. 

Across the world, many weather stations run by local and national organisations provide daily weather forecasts and air and sea temperature readings.

Today, plenty of temperature charts and maps from various reputable sources give past, present, and projected future temperatures.

Various national and international organisations also operate networks of weather stations, satellites, and other tools to continuously monitor and report air temperatures globally. Below is a list of them:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – USA
• NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) – USA
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO) – International
• European Space Agency (ESA) – Europe
• National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) – USA
• UK Met Office – United Kingdom
• Australian Bureau of Meteorology – Australia
• Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) – Japan
• Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) – India
• Canadian Meteorological Centre (CMC) – Canada

Berkely Earth is a non-profit climate research organisation that provides high-resolution land and ocean time series data and gridded temperature data. Their temperature observations date back to 1850, with some land-only areas reported back to 1750.

NASA has been at the forefront of Earth observation for over 30 years through its Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). This extensive program offers free and accessible long-term data about our planet’s dynamic environment.

With thousands of unique data products, EOSDIS enhances our knowledge of how Earth’s systems interact. The data is gathered from various sources, including the International Space Station, satellites, airborne missions, field studies, in situ instruments, and computer models. EOSDIS plays a vital role in NASA’s Earth science initiatives by processing, storing, and distributing this wealth of information, serving a diverse global community for interdisciplinary research and exploration.

NASA Center for Climate Simulation (NCCS). Provide a central location for publishing and accessing extensive, complex climate model data to benefit the climate science community and the broader public.

Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) and the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) measure air temperature. These services utilise satellite data, ground-based observations, and climate models to monitor and provide comprehensive data on atmospheric conditions, including air temperature at various altitudes. They are vital in climate monitoring and research in Europe and beyond.

The University of Maine’s Climate Reanalyzer tool shows air and sea temperatures with downloadable charts and data. The university’s data come from Copernicus, the EU’s Earth-observation programme.

As shown in the graph from Copernicus below, these trusted sources agree that the earth is warming, but there are slight differences in their readings of air and sea temperatures. To get a more accurate and holistic picture of the climate, outputs or raw data from all these weather stations and observations from satellites and other instruments are combined to produce more granular results or what scientists call “reanalysis” data.

Climate reanalysis refers to physically-based numerical frameworks that simulate Earth’s climate through time, guided by frequent input of real-world observations (e.g., weather stations, radiosonde, satellite, and ocean buoys). Reanalysis models are invaluable tools for understanding climate variability and change, including across areas where direct observations are not available. (Climate Reanalyzer, 2024).

Accessing accurate temperature data is crucial in conveying climate data and reporting to the public.

Having accurate, quality-assured data on temperature from around the planet is vital for climate monitoring and progress towards meeting the Paris Agreement’s climate goals and efforts to limit global warming.