Why do global warming deniers claim 1934 was the hottest year?

Question

This was a trivial correction to some US data. The effect on the US data was a change of about a tenth of a degree for some years. The effect on global temperature was about a thousandth of a degree, completely insignificant.

So this chart is still correct. 1934 was not a very hot year.

http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/graphs/Fig.A2_lrg.gif

See also:

http://tamino.wordpress.com/2007/08/12/before-and-after/

Dana - As long as this nonsense keeps getting posted, I'm asking the question. :-)

Mike H - It's not the sun. Proof, not just my words:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/07/070712-sun-climate.html
http://solar-center.stanford.edu/sun-on-earth/FAQ2.html
http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change/dn11650

Tom T - The "global cooling" story is a nyth. Just a couupls of guys with no good data and no backing from the scientific community. Much like the so-called "skeptics" of today. Proof, not my words:

http://www.realclimate.org/index.php?p=94

Jello - Hansen starting saying global warming was real in 1988. His bosses yelled at him for it and kept him from speaking. He got a prize for enduring that abuse for years. If he started talking about global warming to win a prize more than ten years later, he's a genius and you should listen to him.

The National Academy of Sciences said the hockey stick was basically right, just a little too smooth (averaged out). Since then it's been proven many times, with slightly more precise statistics. Ten studies here:

http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:2000_Year_Temperature_Comparison_png

Noone N - I agree you deserve the word "skeptic". But look at the quality of the arguments being made here.

Others deserve the word "denier". Anyone who says "1934 was the warmest year" qualifies. That mindless statement simply ignores the data and denies science.

kveryeffective -

The warming rate isn't affected, except for one year. The correction applied equally to several years, so the rate of warming didn't change except right at the start. The change doesn't affect global warming theories at all.

All the planets aren't warming, just a few, all for different reasons. The Sun is carefully measured, and it isn't the cause.

Answer 1

Hello Bob,

I don't think you need concern yourself too much, this is just the latest in a long line of reasons that some skeptics are using to refute global warming. As with many other reasons (Mars is Warming, Earth is cooling, Head of NASA speaks out etc etc etc) it will soon pass as the skeptics come to realise that yet another argument has no credibility to it.

I'm sure you'll know much of this already but for the benefit of others...

NASA recently re-evaluated their data. As with many things that are re-evaluated some minor modifications were made. The data in question extends back to 1880, for most years no adjustments were needed but there were some years where a minor adjustment was necessary. The data in question relates only to the US (it's part of the Goddard Institute for Space Studies US Historical Climate Record).

The average annual adjustment is less than one thousandth of a degree. When the revised data is fed into the global record the annual adjustment is less than one twenty thousandth of a degree.

Prior to re-evaluation, 1998 was the hottest year on record in the US based on land surface temperature readings and 1934 was the second hottest. The difference between the two years being 0.01°C. With the adjustments made 1934 is now the hottest year in the US coming in at 0.02°C warmer than 1998.

Globally it has made no difference at all, the hottest months, years, decades on record are unchanged.

Interestingly the skeptics are keeping quiet about the recent years that are now showing as being warmer than previously thought.

Globally 1934 was nothing special, it fits in nicely with the warming trend that was being experienced back then. The year as a whole was 0.049°C warmer than the long term average, a figure that's not been so low since 1976.

For more background info have a look at my answer to Dana1981's question (third of his above links), have a read of gcnp58's answer as well.

Answer 2

absolutely no clue!
Probably because they hear it on talk radio, like that lame Mars argument.

Noone N , there is a huge difference between healthy skepticism and denial. obviously he was referring to people that aren't merely skeptical, but absorbed by misinformation and use it to wrap themselves in denial.

Answer 3

If tenth of degree is insignificant than what is heat up rate?

btw: How about all the other planets heating up is that due to the SUVs too?

Answer 4

just as someone said b4.. it is because of the World Wars and nuclear bombs... why worried about if 1934 was the hottest year? what we have to worry about is how come it keeps increasing every year now..!!

Answer 5

1934 wasn't the hottest year...

The hottest year was appx 5,000,000,000 BC.. when the entire earth was a ball of molten rock

Answer 6

For those who are so caught up in global warming, you would do well to recall (or research) the 1970's when we were all supposed to be trembling in fear about global cooling. I wasn't then and I'm not now.

Answer 7

Anyone who uses the word deniers instead of skeptic is obviously involved in spreading a gospel of faith and not in scientific discussion.

Answer 8

Global warming has not been proved.
That big yellow thing warms & cools the earth.

Answer 9

The GISS is Jim Hansen's website. Do you think anyone who makes $250,000.00 by endorsing presidential candidates is going to be objective and admit his mistake?

Hell, he's still wedded to Mann's "hockey stick" years after that was found to be fraudulent.

Answer 10

1934 was when World Wars were hapenning and also 2 nuclear bombs was used on Japan ---so I'm guessing all that hot weather come from the WWI and II plus the Nuclear bombs being used!