''they put actual weather recording stations at airports, so with all that concrete and asphalt about, what do you think that does to the temperature?''
not necessarily what one would think ------- sometimes, the temperatures of incorrectly placed sensors are LOWER than what should be - who woulda thought
''A key study found that, surprisingly, poorly sited stations (including those near tarmacs) in the U.S. actually showed a cooler trend over time, not a warmer one, compared to well-sited stations. ''
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''Long-term temperature data recorded at airports are not specifically adjusted for the effect of heat radiated from asphalt runways. Instead, meteorological standards aim to minimize such biases by specifying where and how temperature sensors should be sited. Ideally, weather stations are placed in grassy, open areas away from artificial heat sources like runways, tarmacs, or buildings. However, in practice, some airport weather stations are closer to these heat-absorbing surfaces than recommended, raising concerns about possible "urban heat island" or "asphalt" effects on temperature readings3.
Extensive research has examined whether these "microsite influences" (such as proximity to asphalt or concrete) significantly bias temperature records. A key study found that, surprisingly, poorly sited stations (including those near tarmacs) in the U.S. actually showed a cooler trend over time, not a warmer one, compared to well-sited stations. When instrumentation changes and other biases are accounted for, trends from both types of sites closely agree3. This suggests that, for long-term climate monitoring, any local heating effects from runways are minimal or are corrected for through data homogenization and quality control procedures.
In summary:
Temperature sensors at airports are ideally placed away from asphalt, but not always.
No direct adjustment is made for the effect of runway asphalt, but data processing and site standards aim to minimize such biases.
Research shows that any bias from asphalt or tarmac is negligible for long-term temperature trends, especially after data homogenization3.
Thus, while the heat from runways can influence local temperatures, the effect on long-term climate data is minimal due to siting standards and rigorous data correction practices. Citations:
