In grade school, we learned about geographical maps – and political maps.
In 2004, NASA showed Antarctica in a long-term cooling trend. But Gavin forecast the future.
Antarctic cooling, global warming? …. the continent and in the interior appear to have cooled slightly …… we fully expect Antarctica to warm up in the future.
Sure enough, in 2007 NASA flipped the long-term trend from cooling to warming.
Did Antarctica suddenly heat up between 2004 and 2007? No.
http://vortex.nsstc.uah.edu/data/msu/t2lt/uahncdc.lt
Maybe my eyes are deceiving me but I see a cooling trend on the bottom graph.
ditto
There appears to be a trough in 2004 and a peak in about 2007 that can be observed in the graph of the UAH data. Perhaps if one were to ignore the rest of the data, and focus with laser-like precision on just that period, one could make a claim of a warming trend
A similar focus on on surface temperatures from the Antarctic Peninsula can also provide confirmation of this trend. Again, it is important to completely ignore all contrary data that might detract from the neat little story that is so important for decision makers at the next COP meeting.
Saving the planet is hard work, and we must all do our part.
Doug in Seatle Said: “….it is important to completely ignore all contrary data that might detract from the neat little story that is so important for decision makers at the next COP meeting”.
This is a skill required to become a mover and shaker in the world of climate science, or should I say, the post-normal world of climate science. You could also say that they Briffa-ed the data.
NASA claims there is an uncertainty with the satellite-based temperature records. They state that satellite have their own limitations, most significantly cloud interference, but they provide a complete, continuous view of the continent from the early 1980s onward.
I’m not aware of this uncertainty and it would be something to consider. But overall I have more faith in UHA than GISS for accuracy.
I also read where GRACE showed almost no melting but perhaps an overall increase over most ice masses. The ice breakups on the west coast where probably due to warm upwelling of ocean currents and volcanic activity that is part of the ring of fire boundary. I have read where the exact volcanic activity beneath the Antarctic ice and ocean is mostly unknown.
Bottom line is NASA indicates a lot of uncertainty as to the temperature trends in the Antarctic. AGWers point to the receding of some glaciers as a point of ice melting but mostly in a short term basis for talking spin. They ignore the medieval and other past warming bubbles.