DYCE WMO 03091 – Exhaustive Research

57.205026 -2.205317 Met Office assessed CIMO Class 4 Installed 1/1/1942

Before anyone asks, that is NOT a “photo-shopped” image. It is the latest “satellite” view from “Google Maps” Those with “google earth pro” can run through historic aerial images to see continually changing propeller and jet aircraft in that position, some with their engine exhausts much closer than even that shown above. Dyce regularly appears in the Met Office’s Daily Extremes as a regional hot spot.

Obviously an aviation site, probably better known as “Aberdeen Airport” (by regional airport standards a particularly busy one) the Stevenson Screen is barely 60 metres from jet aircraft engines. Exactly how the aircraft arrive at and move away from this apparent parking location is not entirely evident – I would welcome anyone’s knowledge on that matter. What is very obvious though, is that it is not a location to take readings from if the intention is for them to reflect the natural environment. Runways, taxiways, car parking, and especially large lumps of reflective metal (aircraft) parking are clearly unrepresentative. Should engines ever be running (even at low power) it is inconceivable that they would not affect the temperature readings.

Here lies a thorny problem for the Met Office – aviation sites comprise the bulk of their weather station sites. There are literally hundreds of airfields in the UK and all have some form of weather recording for operational purposes. Can, or should, many of these sites be used for long term temperature recording data or not? So what does the Met Office say?

“Temperatures should not be recorded at airfields as they can be contaminated by aircraft activity.”

Our response: The Met Office operates some observing sites at airfields (many of which form historical records). It is important that airfields and airports receive, and have access to, accurate and timely meteorological data. Observing stations at airfields are located to be as representative of the wider environment as possible. This includes being placed sufficiently far from runways to avoid contamination from aircraft activity and sites that exhibit significant deviations in behaviour are investigated.”

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/learn-about/how-forecasts-are-made/observations/obs-critical-for-weather–climate

Analysis…..”The Met Office operates some observing sites at airfields”

How many are “some”? Answer….There are over 130 Aviation sites in the total Synoptic and Climate reporting stations list – that is not “some” that is a very large proportion.

“It is important that airfields and airports…….” nobody disputes that straw man which is not relevant to using site data for the long term temperature record..

” representative of the wider environment” is just simply not accurate.

“being placed sufficiently far from runways to avoid contamination from aircraft activity”

So the above imagery (and I have lots more to come from very many sites) displays attention to detail?

Should we not believe our own “lying eyes”?

Source: https://tallbloke.wordpress.com/2024/09/01/dyce-wmo-03091-exhaustive-research/