We pay over $1billion dollars to the ABC each year. You'd expect with that amount of money, enough to purchase around 3030 new Cat 1 fire fighting tankers (each year), it might be able to meet the requirements of its charter and present a news service free of bias and error but unfortunately for many, many years now it has been failing miserably and continues to let the Australian public down. If any other government agency was this bad they would long ago have been restructured or given the boot, with red-faced politicians vowing that such waste would never see the light of day ever again.
This post from JoNova demonstrates that when it comes to climate, ABC has (long) been infected by activists intent of rewriting history to meet a failing propaganda message.
For another example consider this piece about the maximum temperature in the nation's capital.
Canberra records highest December temperature as mercury soars to 39.3C
ABC claims "Canberra has surpassed its highest recorded December temperature, amid a heatwave that continues to sweep the country. At 3:16pm, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) reported the mercury had reached 39.3C at Canberra Airport, breaking the 1994 record of 39.2C."
Now compare those statements with the weather recorded at the official Canberra Capital Weather station in Acton that was run for 27 years between 1912 and 1939.
Station:Canberra (Acton)Number: 70099 Opened: 1912 Closed 31 Dec 1939
Here are the top 5 maximum temperatures for December recorded at ACTON until 1939 Canberra's official weather station:
Year Month Day Max.T
1938 12 27 39.7
1937 12 24 38.5
1937 12 23 38
1938 12 19 36.8
1931 12 31 36.7
The temperature on December 27 1938: 39.7 degrees C. This news article from the Telegraph captures what remains Canberra's highest December maximum. In 1938 Acton and the rest of Canberra was more rural village than city with much less urban heating affect. The ACTON reading was done in a Stevenson screen with a mercury thermometer that does not react to microsecond heat bursts like the current electronic thermometer housed on the runway at Canberra's Airport (BOM station 70351 opened in 2008, it replaced another at the airport 70014 that recorded data between 1939 and 2008). It seems both ABC and indeed BOM are completely unaware of the data stored in BOM's vast repository. Our first Parliament house opened in May 1927. Somehow the incompetent reporters at ABC believe there was no weather station there till 1939!
For interest the highest recorded Max. Temp at ACTON was 42.8C set on Jan 11, 1939. ABC would have you believe Canberra's record high is 42.2C recorded on Feb 1 1968.
ABC: "Earlier forecasts for Saturday put the hottest ACT temperature ever, 42.2C, under threat of being overtaken, but the BOM later downgraded its prediction to 41C."
I can't believe we still are forced to pay for the lies, errors and misrepresentations.
For other posts that feature the ACTON station follow this LINK
UPDATE: According to BOM today Canberra Airport recorded at least 40.1C. Amazing what hot tarmac and overly sensitive instruments will do to our weather history!
21/03:00pm 40.1
Update 2: The actual recorded max was 41.1C! Seems BOM's method of instantaneous weather, that records an errant exhaust blast from a passing jet engine will totally corrupt our weather records.
UPDATE: ABC issue a correction. We referred your complaint to ABC News. They have amended the story, including the headline, to make clear that it relates specifically to readings taken at the BOM station at Canberra Airport. An Editor’s Note has been added to acknowledge and explain the changes made. In view of this prompt and appropriate action by ABC News, we consider this matter resolved.
An eye on ABC NEWS: Keeping the bastards who keep the bastards honest - honest.
Showing posts with label acton weather records. Show all posts
Showing posts with label acton weather records. Show all posts
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
ACTON update
BOM have finally put up the daily min records for the ACTON weather station. This provides another case where the records need to be adjusted. In its Special Climate Statement 48 BOM asserted on page 4...
"On the 17th, Canberra (39.7°C/11.2°C) had its largest diurnal range on record, 28.5°C"
Looking over the records for the Canberra heatwave in January 1939 we find the exact same diurnal range was recorded at the ACTON station on January 13 1939 when this first class weather station recorded a max of 41.9 and a min of 13.4.
BOM continue to disregard history!
"On the 17th, Canberra (39.7°C/11.2°C) had its largest diurnal range on record, 28.5°C"
Looking over the records for the Canberra heatwave in January 1939 we find the exact same diurnal range was recorded at the ACTON station on January 13 1939 when this first class weather station recorded a max of 41.9 and a min of 13.4.
BOM continue to disregard history!
The BOM's ACTON weather station in 1921-according to BOM it may as well not exist!
12/2/2015...Reply from BOM after we pointed out their error...(seems like they have been infected by ABC disease)
12/2/2015...Reply from BOM after we pointed out their error...(seems like they have been infected by ABC disease)
Dear Marc,
The Special Climate Statements are prepared to describe major climate events close to the time that they occur.
For this reason, the reports indicate that the data are valid at the time of writing, and each report provides the date that the final data were sourced.
This provision is necessary since the data may change subsequently for a number of reasons, such as late-arriving manual observations, or subsequent quality control and analysis that may revise the data.
Special Climate Statement 48 was prepared on the 19th January 2014, and carries the following advice.
"This statement is based on data available as of 19 January 2014. Some changes may occur as a result of late-arriving data or the Bureau’s routine quality control procedures.”
Rainfall records in particular are commonly subject to such revisions, and the Bureau does not typically amend previous reports unless a substantial update is required.
In this case, there has been no change to the data considered in the report at the time of writing. The record referenced in Special Climate Statement 48 is for Canberra Airport (station numbers 70014 and 70351). This is detailed in table 3 of the report.
While recently digitised data from Acton has not yet been quality controlled, the observations for January 1939 are consistent with surrounding locations, and show that the 1939 heatwave was one of the most significant on record for the southeast. This information is already provided in the report.
"Over most parts of this region, it ranked alongside the heatwaves of January-February 2009, January 1939 and (from the limited information available) January 1908 as the most significant multi-day heatwaves on record.”
Regards,
Climate Analysis Section
The Special Climate Statements are prepared to describe major climate events close to the time that they occur.
For this reason, the reports indicate that the data are valid at the time of writing, and each report provides the date that the final data were sourced.
This provision is necessary since the data may change subsequently for a number of reasons, such as late-arriving manual observations, or subsequent quality control and analysis that may revise the data.
Special Climate Statement 48 was prepared on the 19th January 2014, and carries the following advice.
"This statement is based on data available as of 19 January 2014. Some changes may occur as a result of late-arriving data or the Bureau’s routine quality control procedures.”
Rainfall records in particular are commonly subject to such revisions, and the Bureau does not typically amend previous reports unless a substantial update is required.
In this case, there has been no change to the data considered in the report at the time of writing. The record referenced in Special Climate Statement 48 is for Canberra Airport (station numbers 70014 and 70351). This is detailed in table 3 of the report.
While recently digitised data from Acton has not yet been quality controlled, the observations for January 1939 are consistent with surrounding locations, and show that the 1939 heatwave was one of the most significant on record for the southeast. This information is already provided in the report.
"Over most parts of this region, it ranked alongside the heatwaves of January-February 2009, January 1939 and (from the limited information available) January 1908 as the most significant multi-day heatwaves on record.”
Regards,
Climate Analysis Section
Canberra Weather Station
Last year we took the Climate Council to task for ignoring the 1939 Canberra heatwave (see HERE). The high quality data available from Canberra's first weather station at Acton ignored because it somehow doesn't fit the alarming story. Looking over the NLA's Trove site today came across the photo below showing the station setup at Acton in 1921. Hard to deny, but somehow they managed it with a straight face!
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Bureau BOMS out on history
Thought a summary version of our FACT checking of BOM records might be of interest:
In recent weeks The Australian newspaper has exposed serious
issues with the manner in which the Bureau of Meteorology analyse Australia’s
temperature records. (See articles HERE,
and HERE).
BOM’s ACORN dataset is the result of a statistical homogenisation process. This
sometimes produces warming trends from data collected at high quality stations
where the station records themselves often show cooling trends. It seems some
of the adjustments made are justified but some it seems are not.
While the meteorological community continue to debate the
details over the validity of BOM’s analytical processes in adjusting historical
records I thought readers might be interested to know how BOM treat some of its
historical data.
In January this year eastern Australia experienced a
heatwave. This was similar to past heatwaves. It seems it was not as severe or
widespread as heatwaves in 1960 or in 1939. Nonetheless the episode was out of
the ordinary and worthy of the attention of our weather experts. BOM dutifully
reported on the heatwave and released a “Special climate statement”: number 48titled “One of southeast
Australia’s most significant heatwaves”.
According
to the Bureau Special Climate Statements: provide a detailed summary of significant weather and climate events.
They are produced on an occasional basis for weather/climate events which are
unusual in the context of the climatology of the affected region. Their purpose
is to document major events. In doing so, they
serve as a historical record, inform the public on the broader historical
and climatological context for events, and give easy access to data and
information which is in high demand from the media and the public.
On page 5 of statement number 48 BOM state: "Canberra also set a record with four
consecutive days of 39°C." The “record” was also picked up by ABC’s
weather guru Graham Creed in his ABC Weather Man blog. This “record” set my
sceptical senses tingling and I set about a little fact checking.
After a brief check through the National Library Newspaper
Archive I came across a few headlines from the Canberra Times that indicated
the BOM had got things wrong. In fact the newspaper records showed that in a
remarkable 7 day stint from the 8th of January 1939 to the 14th
of January the BOM’s ACTON weather station in Canberra recorded 7 days over 39 degrees,
including 4 days over 40, along with ACT’s record maximum temperature of 42.8
degrees on January 11, 1939. The ACTON station was closed in late January 1939
and a weather new station was opened at Canberra Airport.
I passed this advice on the ABC’s weather guru who corrected
his blog to indicate the 4 consecutive days were in fact recorded at BOM’s
newer Canberra Airport Station. The blog was not updated to reference the
newspaper stories or the 1939 weather records.
I requested the daily records for ACTON from the Bureau but for
some reason this station in our nation’s capital only had monthly data. It’s only the nation’s Capital! After
contacting the minister, the Bureau indicated it would as a matter of priority,
collate the data and place it on its website. This was back in January.
Earlier last week, about 8 months after my request, I
received an email from the Bureau to indicate the maximum temperature readings
for ACTON were now online. I checked and they confirmed the Newspaper reports.
Not wanting the historical record to be in error I requested BOM correct
its Climate Statement. This is the response:
The record referenced
in Special Climate Statement 48 is a station record for Canberra Airport
(station numbers 70014 and 70351), as is stated in Table 3.
It seems the historical record will be forever tainted! According
to the Bureau’s climate statement the record heatwave of 1939 did not happen in
Canberra. This despite the Bureau’s own data showing it did.
BOM’s homogenisation process may be valid or not, but it
seems its handling of the nation’s weather records, based on its handling of
ACTON, leaves much to be desired.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Correcting Errors at the BOM: ACTON UPDATE
In its climate statement "Special Climate Statement 48 – one of southeast Australia’s most significant heatwaves" BOM make the following claim: (p.5):"Canberra also set a record with four consecutive days of 39°C."
We requested BOM make a correction to the climate statement about Canberra's recent "record" which is now shown to be false as the BOM's Canberra ACTON station shows the following run of highs in January 1939:
Jan 1939 records indicate 7 consecutive days over 39°C between the 8th and 14th.
Jan 8: 39.3
Jan 9: 39.2
Jan 10: 41.1
Jan 11: 42.8
Jan 12: 39.8
Jan 13: 41.9
Jan 14: 40.8
BOM responded thus:
The main text does NOT indicate this and in its current form it is misleading. Please correct the main text.
BOM provide the following description of its Special Climate Statements...
Special Climate Statements
The Bureau's Special Climate Statements provide a detailed summary of significant weather and climate events. They are produced on an occasional basis for weather/climate events which are unusual in the context of the climatology of the affected region. Their purpose is to document major events. In doing so, they serve as a historical record, inform the public on the broader historical and climatological context for events, and give easy access to data and information which is in high demand from the media and the public.
As BOM consider the statements "serve as a historical record" it is of utmost importance that errors are corrected. BOM's statement on page 5...that "Canberra also set a record with four consecutive days of 39°C." is clearly in error and requires correction.
It is common practice in scientific reports for a corrigendum to be issued to correct mistakes made in published papers. Given the historical importance BOM place on its special climate statements it seems the issue of a corrigendum is appropriate in this case.
BOM describe their special climate statements in the following way:
The Bureau's Special Climate Statements provide a detailed summary of significant weather and climate events. They are produced on an occasional basis for weather/climate events which are unusual in the context of the climatology of the affected region. Their purpose is to document major events. In doing so, they serve as a historical record, inform the public on the broader historical and climatological context for events, and give easy access to data and information which is in high demand from the media and the public.
The Bureau's Special Climate Statements provide a detailed summary of significant weather and climate events. They are produced on an occasional basis for weather/climate events which are unusual in the context of the climatology of the affected region. Their purpose is to document major events. In doing so, they serve as a historical record, inform the public on the broader historical and climatological context for events, and give easy access to data and information which is in high demand from the media and the public.
THEY SERVE AS A HISTORICAL RECORD
We requested BOM make a correction to the climate statement about Canberra's recent "record" which is now shown to be false as the BOM's Canberra ACTON station shows the following run of highs in January 1939:
Jan 1939 records indicate 7 consecutive days over 39°C between the 8th and 14th.
Jan 8: 39.3
Jan 9: 39.2
Jan 10: 41.1
Jan 11: 42.8
Jan 12: 39.8
Jan 13: 41.9
Jan 14: 40.8
BOM responded thus:
Fri, Sep 5, 2014 at 1:42 PM
The record referenced in Special Climate Statement 48 is a station record for Canberra Airport (station numbers 70014 and 70351), as is stated in Table 3.
Regards,
Climate Analysis Section
Our response:
The record referenced in Special Climate Statement 48 is a station record for Canberra Airport (station numbers 70014 and 70351), as is stated in Table 3.
Regards,
Climate Analysis Section
BOM provide the following description of its Special Climate Statements...
Special Climate Statements
The Bureau's Special Climate Statements provide a detailed summary of significant weather and climate events. They are produced on an occasional basis for weather/climate events which are unusual in the context of the climatology of the affected region. Their purpose is to document major events. In doing so, they serve as a historical record, inform the public on the broader historical and climatological context for events, and give easy access to data and information which is in high demand from the media and the public.
As BOM consider the statements "serve as a historical record" it is of utmost importance that errors are corrected. BOM's statement on page 5...that "Canberra also set a record with four consecutive days of 39°C." is clearly in error and requires correction.
It is common practice in scientific reports for a corrigendum to be issued to correct mistakes made in published papers. Given the historical importance BOM place on its special climate statements it seems the issue of a corrigendum is appropriate in this case.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
ACTON ONLINE
Earlier this year the Bureau of Meteorology made the following claim in respect to temperatures in Canberra:
In its recent climate statement"Special Climate Statement 48 – one of southeast Australia’s most significant heatwaves" BOM make the following claim: (p.5):"Canberra also set a record with four consecutive days of 39°C."
We took the BOM up on this and also ABC's weather man Graham Creed (here and here and here and here)
BOM have finally digitised the daily max. temp records for its ACTON station. The records may be found HERE.
They accord with the information we found revealing the following run of high temps:
In its recent climate statement"Special Climate Statement 48 – one of southeast Australia’s most significant heatwaves" BOM make the following claim: (p.5):"Canberra also set a record with four consecutive days of 39°C."
We took the BOM up on this and also ABC's weather man Graham Creed (here and here and here and here)
BOM have finally digitised the daily max. temp records for its ACTON station. The records may be found HERE.
They accord with the information we found revealing the following run of high temps:
Jan 6: 36.2
Jan 7: 38.7
Jan 8: 39.3
Jan 9: 39.2
Jan 10: 41.1
Jan 11: 42.8
Jan 12: 39.8
Jan 13: 41.9
Jan 14: 40.8
We sent the following new request to BOM's climate services branch:
In your "Special Climate Statement 48 – one of southeast Australia’s most significant heatwaves" BOM make the following claim: (p.5):"Canberra also set a record with four consecutive days of 39°C."
With the release of the daily maximum figures for ACTON station this is now clearly false. Please correct the statement.
http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=122&p_display_type=dailyDataFile&p_startYear=1923&p_c=-982875403&p_stn_num=70099
Jan 1939 records indicate 7 consecutive days over 39°C between the 8th and 14th.
In your "Special Climate Statement 48 – one of southeast Australia’s most significant heatwaves" BOM make the following claim: (p.5):"Canberra also set a record with four consecutive days of 39°C."
With the release of the daily maximum figures for ACTON station this is now clearly false. Please correct the statement.
http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/weatherData/av?p_nccObsCode=122&p_display_type=dailyDataFile&p_startYear=1923&p_c=-982875403&p_stn_num=70099
Jan 1939 records indicate 7 consecutive days over 39°C between the 8th and 14th.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Lies of the Climate Commission/Council: Part 18
ABC covered the Climate Council's latest beat up.
It included this summary:
Included in the "records" is reference to "20 days above 35C in Canberra".
The report did not mention that in 1939 the BOM station at ACTON (70099-one we have taken an interest in) recorded 23 days above 35C! There were also 5 more days above 30 in 1939.
See comparison below:
![]()
It included this summary:
2013-14 summer records included:
- 11 days above 42C in Adelaide
- Driest summer for 45 spots in Qld & 38 in NSW
- Sydney's driest summer in 27 years
- 20 days above 35C in Canberra
Included in the "records" is reference to "20 days above 35C in Canberra".
The report did not mention that in 1939 the BOM station at ACTON (70099-one we have taken an interest in) recorded 23 days above 35C! There were also 5 more days above 30 in 1939.
See comparison below:
Summer 1939-ACTON 70099
Summer 2014-Canberra Airport 70351
Monday, January 20, 2014
Canberra Temperature Data-more history than you are led to think
Based on its run down on Canberra's weather (HERE) and recent media statements (HERE) our Bureau of Meteorology would have you believe that there were no official temperature measurements made in our nation's capital prior to March 1939.
However as we have discovered thanks to errors made by ABC's weather man, there was indeed an earlier BOM station at ACTON (70099) that operated from 1914 through to December 1939. It recorded, temperature and rainfall such as THESE observations for January 1939.
We asked BOM whether it had the daily temperature records available for this station and got the following initial response from one of BOM's Climate Data Officers (to save embarrassment we won't reveal any names):
Thank you for your enquiry. Acton 70099 only recorded rainfall from 1913-1939 and rainfall intensity (pluviograph) 1921-1939. The site never recorded temperatures. Canberra Forestry recorded temperature 1957-1980, Canberra City 70282 1974-1988, Canberra Airport 70014 1939-2010, Canberra AP (new) 2008-now.
To which we replied:
This came shortly after:
We forwarded our exchange to Minister Hunt with the following query:
However as we have discovered thanks to errors made by ABC's weather man, there was indeed an earlier BOM station at ACTON (70099) that operated from 1914 through to December 1939. It recorded, temperature and rainfall such as THESE observations for January 1939.
We asked BOM whether it had the daily temperature records available for this station and got the following initial response from one of BOM's Climate Data Officers (to save embarrassment we won't reveal any names):
Thank you for your enquiry. Acton 70099 only recorded rainfall from 1913-1939 and rainfall intensity (pluviograph) 1921-1939. The site never recorded temperatures. Canberra Forestry recorded temperature 1957-1980, Canberra City 70282 1974-1988, Canberra Airport 70014 1939-2010, Canberra AP (new) 2008-now.
To which we replied:
In regard to 70099 you make the following statement "The site never recorded temperatures", yet mean monthly temperature data is available for this station on the BOM climate data site. See:http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/
Can you please clarify your comments. On the facts at hand you appear to be incorrect.
Thank you for your enquiry. To correct the earlier sent correspondence, daily temperature data for Acton (70099) is as yet undigitised, we are only able to provide monthly records from our digital database. The original paper records of temperature observations from 1914 to 1939 for the site are stored in National Archives of Australia (NAA). We have contacted NAA to assess where these records are physically stored and will inform you of this as soon as possible. The Bureau is constantly working to digitise as much of the early record as possible.
Dear Minister,
The above correspondence for your information and action.
Given the historical significance of historical temperature readings at the old BOM weather station at Acton can the Minister please inform me of when the records will be made available to the pubic.
Given the historical significance of historical temperature readings at the old BOM weather station at Acton can the Minister please inform me of when the records will be made available to the pubic.
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