A new scientific paper by Paul Burgess can be downloaded at: Paul Burgess | Substack Here is part of it:
Unreliable UK Met Office Peak Temperature Records: The Airport
Runway Problem
Author: Paul Burgess, B.Sc., M.Sc., Retired Environment Engineer and Water Resources
Engineer, Specialisation in Hydro-Climatology
Abstract
The UK Met Office’s claimed record high temperatures, notably 40.1°C at Heathrow and
40.3°C at Coningsby in 2022, are unreliable due to unaddressed biases at airport runway
sites.
These records, widely publicised as evidence of extreme climate events, fail to account
for the urban heat island (UHI) effect, ventilation issues, and sensor calibration problems
inherent to airport environments. Estimates suggest the true temperature at Heathrow was
likely 36.9-37°C, significantly lower than reported. Furthermore, the Met Office’s use of data
from non-existent stations and statistically impossible 33-year averages for short-lived
sites casts significant doubt on their data integrity.
This paper argues that the consistent
occurrence of record highs at airports is not coincidental but a direct result of these
unmitigated factors, amplified by uncritical media reporting.
Introduction
The UK Met Office has reported unprecedented temperature records in recent years, with
40.1°C at Heathrow and 40.3°C at Coningsby in July 2022 marking the first instances of
temperatures exceeding 40°C in the UK. These figures, set at airport runways, have been
broadcast globally as milestones in climate history, driving narratives of escalating climate
change. However, critical examination reveals that these records are unreliable due to three
unaddressed factors: the UHI effect, inadequate ventilation, and potential sensor calibration
errors. Compounding this, evidence from
Freedom of Information (FOI) requests highlights
the Met Office’s inclusion of data from 103 non-existent stations and the use of 33-year
rolling averages for stations operational for as little as 8 years. The consistent siting of
record highs at airports underscores a systemic issue, as runway environments amplify
these biases. This paper explores these factors and their implications for the
trustworthiness of the Met Office’s peak temper