Estimation and representation of long‐term (>40 year) trends of Northern‐Hemisphere‐gridded surface temperature: A note of caution

[1] Several quantitative estimates of surface instrumental temperature trends in the late 20th century are compared by using published results and our independent analyses. These estimates highlight a significant sensitivity to the method of analysis, the treatment of data, and the choice of data presentation (i.e., size of the smoothing filter window). Providing an accurate description of both quantitative uncertainties and sensitivity to the treatment of data is recommended as well as avoiding subjective data-padding procedures. INDEX TERMS: 1620 Global Change: Climate dynamics (3309); 3299 Mathematical Geophysics: General or miscellaneous; 1699 Global Change: General or miscellaneous; 6620 Public Issues: Science policy. Citation: Soon, W. W.-H., D. R. Legates, and S. L. Baliunas (2004), Estimation and representation of long-term (>40 year) trends of NorthernHemisphere-gridded surface temperature: A note of caution, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L03209, doi:10.1029/2003GL019141.

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