In this episode of Let’s Climunicate, Dr. Alberto Troccoli speaks with Professor Phil Jones—a key figure in the development of global temperature records and Professor Emeritus at the University of East Anglia.
Renowned for constructing one of the earliest global temperature datasets, Jones shares his fascinating insights into the reliability of climate data, the role of proxies in climate reconstruction, the challenges of historical temperature measurement, and the truth behind Climategate.
▶️ Discover:
• How temperature records are built from land, ocean, and proxy data
• The role of Stevenson screens, ship logs, and ice cores
• Why multiple datasets yield consistent results despite different methods
• The facts about the Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age
• What the data says about future warming and climate tipping points
This candid conversation offers rare insight from a scientist at the forefront of climate research for over 40 years.
▶️ Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Climate Change
00:26 – Meet the Expert: Phil Jones
01:46 – Phil Jones’ Career Journey
05:12 – Understanding Global Temperature Records
06:02 – Quick Fire Questions on Climate Change
11:53 – Historical Climate Data and Its Reliability
23:49 – The Evolution of Wine and Beer in England
26:27 – Impact of Changing Instruments on Temperature Records
29:59 – Challenges in Historical Temperature Measurements
32:13 – Sea Surface Temperature Measurements and Corrections
37:37 – Consistency in Global Temperature Records
42:02 – The Climategate Controversy and Its Aftermath
46:47 – Historical Proxies and Climate Evidence
49:00 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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📅 Episode recorded on 20 March 2025
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