Compare a Value with a Climate Reference - Practice 2

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A climate normal is a reference statistic for a stated period; standard normals commonly use 30 years. Subtract the reference from the observed value to get an anomaly. An anomaly is not automatically an error. Fictional values below are annual means.

Worked example

Annual mean 14 C minus a 30-year reference mean 12 C gives an anomaly of +2 C.

Question 1 Fictional station Fern: annual mean 17 C and 30-year reference 15 C. What is the anomaly in C (observed minus reference)? Answer

Question 2 Fictional station Glen: annual mean 19 C and 30-year reference 16 C. What is the anomaly in C (observed minus reference)? Answer

Question 3 Fictional station Hill: annual mean 15 C and 30-year reference 17 C. What is the anomaly in C (observed minus reference)? Answer

Question 4 Fictional station Iris: annual mean 19 C and 30-year reference 18 C. What is the anomaly in C (observed minus reference)? Answer

Question 5 Fictional station Juniper: annual mean 23 C and 30-year reference 19 C. What is the anomaly in C (observed minus reference)? Answer